Malaysian officials have said they "know better" and insist a missing Irish girl has not been abducted from her room, in direct conflict with the belief of her frantic family who insist she would not have wandered off from the nature resort.

About 45,000 people joined a massive opposition rally today in Malaysia’s largest city in a show of force ahead of key general elections due in months.

CHILDREN as young as six will be given sex education in Malaysian primary schools from next year, an official said, as part of a drive to curb “baby-dumping”, promiscuity and HIV.

News reports say Malaysia’s prime minister has accepted responsibility for his ruling coalition’s recent poor election results and will hand over power to his deputy after December.

Indian health officials went door-to-door today searching for people possibly sickened by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.