Malaysian police authorities have advised the family of an Irish man who has been missing for one month to hire a private detective to help in the search as a fundraising drive is launched.

The Tánaiste has called on the Russian Federation to cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability for the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.

A fire that blocked the only exit to an Islamic school dormitory has killed 23 people, mostly teenagers, on the outskirts of Malaysia's largest city, officials said.