Malaysia's transport minister says he is confident the MH370 airliner which disappeared almost a year ago will be found in the southern Indian Ocean

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer island nations in the Indian Ocean a broad range of military and civilian assistance next week in a bid to wrest back some of the influence China has gained by spending billions of dollars in the region.

As we prepare to commemorate the sacrifices of some brave young Bangalees in that defining year of 1952, we cannot but bear in mind some other realities. Bangalees also in other regions -- India's Barak valley and Manbhum -- have lost their lives protesting assaults on their language. How many of us are aware of such hard truths? Today, we recount those tales of commitment and valour.