MH370: More signals detected

Authorities say submarines searching for MH370 will only be deployed when another signal is detected.

SEARCH crews have relocated signals, hoped to be from MH370's black box, another two times.

Search co-ordinator and retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston has told reporters in Perth the discovery by Australian ship Ocean Shield is "further encouraging".

"The detection yesterday afternoon was held for approximately five minutes and 32 seconds," he said.

"The detection late last night was held for approximately 7 minutes."

It takes the number of transmissions detected by Ocean Shield to four.

"Yesterday's signals will assist in better defining a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean floor," Air Chief Marshal Houston added.

But he said authorities are not yet at the point of deploying the autonomous underwater vehicle 'Blue Fin 21'.

"The better Ocean Shield can define the area, the easier it will be for the autonomous underwater vehicle to subsequently search for aircraft wreckage."

"I believe we are searching in the right area, but we need to visually identify aircraft wreckage before we can confirm with certainty that this is the final resting place of MH370," he argued.

Late last week Ocean Shield detected two signals consistent with transmissions from a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder. The first signal continued for two hours, while the second was just 13 minutes.

Based on Perth time, the first was found on Saturday, April 5 at 4.45pm, the second was heard on Saturday, April 5 at 9.27pm, the third was detected on Tuesday, April 8 at 4.27pm and the fourth was heard on Tuesday, April 8 at 10.17pm.

Searching for clues ... a fast response craft from Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield towing Able Seaman Clearance Diver Michael Arnold as he searches the ocean for debris Picture: Lt Ryan Davis/Australian Defence Source: AFP

The Air Chief Marshal said data analysis of the first two detections found they were consistent with "the specification and description" of a flight data recorder.

According to work conducted by the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre at HMAS Albatross in Nowra NSW, it was not of natural origin and was "likely sourced" from specific electronic equipment.

"The analysis determined that a very stable distinct and clear signal was detected at 33.331 kilohertz and that it consistently pulsed at a 1.106 second interval," he said.

The search effort is also being boosted by a sonar buoy search, with a modified RAAF P3 aircraft to coordinate with Ocean Shield in the same area.

But he warned there was a lot of silt, "that could complicate the search".

He said it was important for Ocean Shield to collect as much data as possible ahead of deploying 'Blue Fin 21'.

"The reason we want to do that is there's no second chances.

"It looks like the signals we've picked up recently have been much weaker than the original signals we picked up, so that means probably we're either a long way away from it, or in my view more likely, the batteries are starting to fade and as a consequence, the signal is becoming weaker," he warned.

"So we need to as we say in Australia, make hay while the sun shines."

Looking ... An Australian Orion aircraft arrives back at Pearce Airbase in Bullsbrook, 35 kms north of Perth after assisting in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

But he expressed his confidence the underwater device would be deployed soon and something will be found.

"I'm now optimistic that we will find the aircraft, or what is left of the aircraft, in the not too distant future," the Air Chief Marshal said.

"But we haven't found it yet because this is a very challenging business. We're relying on transmissions that have come and gone and I'd just like to have that hard evidence, a photograph evidence that there's pieces of aircraft down there to know that actually this is the final resting place of MH370."

He and Defence Minister David Johnston remain confident that there is life in the black box despite the days that have passed.

"May I say the battery life in the black box transponder has a long way to go in our opinion, certainly several days into the future," Senator Johnston told reporters in Canberra.

"We are just as aggressive as we were last week in pursuing and trying to isolate that signal," he said.

Divers brought in ... Able Seaman Clearance Diver Matthew Johnston is towed by the navy's Ocean Shield fast response craft as he scans the water for debris. Picture: Lt Ryan Davis/Australian Defence Source: AFP

Australian officials maintain the signals are still their most "positive lead".

Air Chief Marshal Houston today said a towed pinger is still trying to relocate the signals and will do so for "several days".

COMMENT: MH370 — the world's greatest detective story

When the 'Blue Fin 21' is deployed it will do 20-hour sweeps to collect data and pictures, he said, but can't do both at the same time.

He admitted it was a race against time.

"There is a chance that the locator beacon is about to cease transmission or has ceased transmission."

Officials have spelled out the challenges of the mission — among them ships picking up their own signals as they search for traces of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.

FALSE LEADS AND FRUSTRATION

Air Chief Marshal admitted there have been "false leads" in the past and Ocean Shield needs to be allowed to steadily continue its work trying to find another signal.

"Some … have been actually transmissions from the ship that was actually searching and it got its own transmissions back again," he said.

"So funny things happen in that environment and you can't assume things."

While much of the searching is at a hi-tech level, the human eye is invaluable.

Spotters on planes and ships have now been joined by divers, shown in photographs released yesterday by defence bosses.

The divers are taken out to look at any suspect pieces of debris seen from the vessels.

Race against time ... Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion crew member, Sergeant Sean Donaldson, preparing to drop a marker buoy. Picture: Cpl Jessica De Rouw/Australian Defence Source: AFP

DETAILS OF TODAY'S SEARCH

Crews will continue trying to relocate the signals today, hoped to be from MH370's black box.

Australian ship Ocean Shield is in the northern end of the search zone, with Chinese ship Haixun 01 and HMS Echo searching to the south.

Up to 15 aircraft and 14 ships will be part of today's effort.

The centre of the search area is approximately 2261 kilometres north west of Perth.

Scattered showers are expected, as a weak front moves in from the south east.

Anguish. Feng Zhishang cries as family members mark the birthday of his son Feng Dong, a passenger on board the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Picture: AFP Source: AP

TEARFUL VIGIL IN BEIJING

In Beijing, family members of passengers on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have held a tearful vigil in Beijing to mark one month since contact with the plane was lost.

"We've been waiting and holding on here for already 31 days," said Steve Wang, one of the relatives.

"Don't cry anymore. Don't hurt anymore. Don't despair. Don't feel lost," he counselled others who gathered for the vigil.

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Toyota recalling 6.5 million cars

Recalled ... one of Toyota's Urban Cruisers. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

TOYOTA is recalling almost 300,000 cars and utes in Australia alone for faults including a potential airbag failure and seats that may slip forward.

Owners of 179,000 Hilux utes built between April 2004 and the end of 2009 and 118,600 Yaris small cars made between June 2005 and May 2010 have been caught up in global recall of 6.76 million Toyotas.

It is the latest in series of embarrassments for the world's biggest car-maker.

The two latest recalls are the fourth and fifth for Toyota Australia over the past four months alone.

Last year the car giant issued seven recalls locally and nine in 2012.

The latest round of recalls follow Toyota being slugged with a world record A$1.3 billion fine in the US last month for being slow to react to the recall of 3.8 million cars sold there because floor mats could cause the accelerator pedal to stick.

The HiLux, Australia's top-selling ute, is being recalled for a spiral cable that could become damaged by turning the wheel leading in turn the failure of the driver's airbag to deploy in an accident.

Toyota said in a statement that owners can continue to drive their vehicles but should contact a dealer if the airbag warning light flashes.

Affected customers will be notified of the recall by mail at their last known address and asked to make an appointment at an authorised Toyota dealer to have the spiral cable assembly replaced — but the mail out will not commence until late July.

Meanwhile drivers of the popular Yaris hatch and sedan could find themselves sliding into the steering wheel.

The Toyota Yaris ... which is also being recalled. Source: Supplied

A spring locking the driver's seat track in position may break if the seat is moved frequently.

Toyota said if the vehicle is "driven with a broken seat track spring, the seat could move in the event of an accident and may increase the risk of injury".

It may also affect the front passenger seat. Replacement parts will be available next month and, as with all recalls, the work will be done free of charge.

The latest Toyota recall is one of the biggest campaigns locally.

In October 2012, Toyota Australia recalled almost 300,000 — from a 7.4 million global batch — across six models including the Corolla, Kluger, RAV4, Yaris, Aurion and Camry built between 2006 and 2010.

That recall was to replace the electric window master switch because "the switch assembly may overheat and melt".

In March 2006, more than 129,000 Commodores, Monaros and Statesmans were recalled after Holden discovered the seat-mounted side airbags in 13 customer cars activated "under circumstances which did not warrant inflation".

In 2004, Holden recalled 115,000 Commodores in Australia (and 20,000 overseas) to replace faulty power steering hoses.

Toyota owners can call the Toyota recall campaign helpline on 1800 643 242.

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’Hostages’ freed amid Ukraine talks

The U.S. blames Russian forces for separatist unrest in eastern Ukraine. Paul Chapman reports.

UKRAINE says pro-Russian militants have freed 56 "hostages" after US and EU diplomats set up their first direct talks with Moscow and Kiev aimed at resolving the worst East-West stand-off since the Cold War.

Ukraine's SBU security service said the group walked free from its headquarters in Lugansk on Wednesday after separatists seized the building and other key government offices at the weekend in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern industrial heartland.

The separatist raids have drawn Western charges that Russia — its troops already massed along Ukraine's border in response to its ouster of a Moscow-backed regime — is backing the separatists and plotting to grab more territory after annexing Crimea last month.

But US and EU diplomats also crucially agreed with Moscow that it was time to de-escalate the worst European security crisis in decades by setting up a four-way round of negotiations involving Kiev next week.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office confirmed she would meet US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov along with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Deshchytsya in one of the European capitals.

Diplomatic headache ... US Secretary of State Kerry will meet with diplomats from the EU, Ukraine and Russia, in an effort to de-escalate the worst European security crisis in decades. Source: AP

A source in the Russian foreign ministry told Moscow's state-run RIA Novosti news agency the talks would probably be held at the end of the week.

The breakthrough agreement was reached after hundreds of irate activists occupied a series of strategic buildings in the east at the weekend and declared independence for the bustling region of Donetsk.

Ukraine's embattled leaders poured extra security forces into the flashpoint regions and regained control of the government seat in Kharkiv on Tuesday after a night of violence that included petrol bombs and stun grenades being hurled at police.

But the militants remain holed up behind barricades of razor wire and old tyres in the administration building in Donetsk and the SBU headquarters in Lugansk — the site of the alleged hostage taking.

The SBU had accused the Kalashnikov-wielding separatists of rigging the building with explosives and refusing to let 60 people already inside "leave the building and return home".

Separatist violence ... a worker cleans up after riots as members of a special police unit guard the regional administration building in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The claim sparked fears that Kiev's Western-backed leaders had run out of patience and were preparing to storm the occupied offices after labelling the separatists "terrorists".

But the SBU said on Wednesday that 56 people had walked free thanks to two rounds of negotiations led by unidentified MPs from Ukraine's parliament.

The agency did not specify how many people were still allegedly being held against their will.

"No one was injured," the SBU said in a statement.

"In order to minimise the risks to the lives and safety of citizens, the negotiations process is continuing."

Yet Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov stressed that the "anti-terrorist operation" in cities along Russia's border continued.

"We have two options: political — in other words, negotiations — or the use of force," Mr Avakov told reporters.

'Don't worry' ... Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow has no intention to invade its ex-Soviet neighbour. Source: AP

"I think that a resolution to this crisis will be found within the next 48 hours."

Months of deadly political turmoil threaten not only to break up the vast nation on the European Union's eastern frontier along its ethnic divisions but also plunge Moscow's relations with the West to a low that may take decades to repair.

Mr Kerry appeared to cast aside the last vestiges of diplomatic decorum Tuesday by explicitly accusing the Kremlin of sending operatives into eastern Ukraine to foment unrest.

"Everything that we've seen in the last 48 hours, from Russian provocateurs and agents operating in eastern Ukraine, tells us that they've been sent there determined to create chaos," Kerry told US politicians.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague backed up that message by noting the flare-up bore "all the hallmarks of a Russian strategy to destabilise Ukraine".

And NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed on a visit to Paris that Moscow would be making a "historic mistake" if it were to intervene in Ukraine any further.

But the Russian foreign ministry argued on Wednesday that "the United States and Ukraine have no reason to worry" because Moscow had no intention to invade its ex-Soviet neighbour.

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Pistorius ill as fatal wound shown

On trial, Oscar Pistorius was asked if he intended to kill Reeva Steenkamp. Courtesy: CNN

Became physically ill ... Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria. Source: AP

JUNE Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, approached prosecutor Gerrie Nel after he compared her late daughter's head to a watermelon and showed a shocking and graphic image of her fatal wound to the court during the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

Live television coverage of the trial was blocked and the proceedings adjourned after a photograph, clearly showing Reeva Steenkamp's face in profile and the head wound, was shown on courtroom monitors.

Seconds earlier, after an initial objection from the defence, Nel had shown the court a video of Pistorius firing a pistol at a watermelon at a shooting range.

OSCAR PISTORIUS: Pictured at shooting range months before fatal shooting

OSCAR PISTORIUS: "I wake up at night smelling blood"

Shocking and graphic image ... June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, is comforted by family lawyer Dup de Bruyn, as they listen to cross questioning of Oscar Pistorius. Source: AP

The hollow-point ammunition being used by Pistorius caused the watermelon to explode. A voice, which Pistorius acknowledged was his, can be heard saying, "It's a lot softer than brain, but it is like a zombie-stopper".

Nel put it to Pistorius that the effect that the bullet had on the watermelon was the same as that which struck Steenkamp in the head.

"Have a look," he said. "It's about time you did. It's time you took responsibility for what you did."

"I don't have to look at it," Pistorius said, sobbing. "I remember. I was there."

The image then appeared on the monitors and, for several seconds before being blocked by broadcasters, was shown on the live television feed.

When Pistorius became distressed and physically ill, the trial was adjourned.

During the break June Steenkamp, who has remained composed throughout proceedings, left her seat to speak to Nel. Pistorius's brother Carl and sister Aimee, visibly upset, conferred with the defence team.

When the court resumed 15 minutes later Nel, who had attacked Pistorius aggressively from the first question of his cross-examination, was markedly softer in his approach.

Fatal attraction ... Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he is accused of murdering. Source: AP

Nel began his cross-examination by saying: "You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that is what you did." "I made a mistake," Pistorius replied.

"People look up to you as a sport hero," the prosecutor said. "I know a lot of people's opinions of me have changed," Pistorius answered.

Asked by Nel whether he lived according to "strictly Christian principles," the athlete said: "I try to. The Lord said he came down to this world for people who have sins. I am human. I am here to tell the truth."

Earlier, Pistorius told the court Miss Steenkamp was still alive for a short time after being shot.

On his third day of giving evidence the double-amputee Olympian said Miss Steenkamp, his girlfriend of four months, was "struggling to breathe" after he had shot her through a locked toilet door on Valentine's Day last year.

His evidence was contrary to that delivered earlier in the trial by expert witnesses for the prosecution who asserted that death would have been instantaneous after one of four shots fired through the door struck Miss Steenkamp in the head.

Pistorius is charged with the premeditated murder of the 29 year-old law graduate and model. The prosecution case is that he deliberately shot Miss Steenkamp in a fit of rage. Pistorius has told the court he fired believing he was about be attacked by an intruder.

In his final direct evidence before being cross-examined by prosecutor Nel, Pistorius told how he used a cricket bat to gain entrance to the locked toilet and saw Miss Steenkamp lying bleeding on the floor.

He sat down and pulled her towards him.

"I had Reeva's head on my left shoulder," he said. "I could feel the blood running down. I tried to pick Reeva up. I didn't know what to do. I could see she was breathing … struggling to breathe."

Pistorius said after calling an ambulance he carried Miss Steenkamp downstairs to the ground floor of his home.

She died in his arms.

"I just sat with her waiting for the ambulance to arrive. I felt helpless. I wanted to take her to the hospital. I had my fingers in her mouth to help her to breathe. I had my left hand on her hip trying to stop the bleeding but Reeva had already died when I was holding her before the ambulance arrived so I knew there was nothing I could do for her."

When paramedics arrived one asked Pistorius to produce some identification for Miss Steenkamp. After he had handed over her handbag, the paramedic officially informed him of Miss Steenkamp's death.

With Miss Steenkamp's body still lying in the sitting room Pistorius sat on the kitchen floor, leaning against a serving counter and crying.

"Every time I looked up there were more people in the house, more policemen," he said. "I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of blood was making me throw up.

"I stayed in the kitchen. I couldn't look around the corner because every time I saw Reeva I got sick."

The final question asked of Pistorius by his defence attorney Barry Roux before handing over to Nel was: "Did you ever intend to kill Reeva Steenkamp?"

His answer: "I did not intend to kill Reeva or anyone else, my Lady."

Third day of giving evidence ... Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria. Source: AP

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Clinton: ‘I’m thinking of running’

Will Hillary Clinton run for president in 2016? Not knowing the answer is keeping potential rivals from raising money. WSJ's Peter Nicholas reports on Lunch Break.

'I'm thinking about it' ... Hillary Clinton pictured earlier this month. Picture: Andrew Burton Source: AFP

HILLARY Rodham Clinton has confirmed that she is 'thinking' of seeking Democrat preselection for the US Presidency in 2016.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Marketing Nation Summit in San Francisco on Tuesday, Clinton spoke about the US economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin and some vague words about her own presidential ambitions.

The US is in a "political period of dysfunction," she said, citing the "disheartening and embarrassing" spectacle of Congress flirting with debt default.

"I wish our country had the limited campaign period that other countries have," she said, adding that a shorter campaign would leave more time for reasoned discussion and action on what the country really wants and needs.

"I'm not going to make a decision (about running for president) for a while because I'm actually enjoying my life, having fun doing ordinary things" like seeing friends and taking long walks with her dog, she said, before flashing a sly smile.

"I danced around that pretty well, don't you think?"

Playing to the 3500 marketing experts in the audience, Clinton said she was "hoping to get some marketing advice ... obviously thinking about it."

Tough words on Putin ... Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures while delivering the keynote address at Marketo's 2014 Marketing Nation Summit. Picture: Ben Margot Source: AP

But she also balanced the coy jokes with some serious remarks on the subject.

"The hard questions aren't do you want to be president, or can you win. The hard question is why," Mashable quoted her as saying.

"Why would you want to do this and what would you offer that could make a difference?"

Political pundits have canvassed a number of other candidates for Democratic Party preselection, including the current Vice President, Joe Biden, and the Governor of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren, but a recent Time magazine cover story suggested their chances were slight.

Their headline read: "Can anyone stop Hillary?"

She was even more serious when she discussed the Russian President, whom she called "a tough guy with a thin skin who believes the best way to move forward is by moving backwards" to the era of the Russian Empire.

"He will go as far as he can unless he is somehow contained."

Clinton said the "flood of money out of Russia" in recent months "is the best way to undermine the oligarchs who support him."

Also important is weaning Europe from the oil Russia provides, she said, as is repeating loudly and often that "what he did in Crimea is illegal; it is against international law."

"He is obviously determined, he is very difficult to read personally and he is always looking for advantage, so he will try to put you ill at ease" through insults or bored, dismissive behaviour, she said.

"I've had a lot of experience with that. ... I'm not impressed by it."

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‘We’re more optimistic it’s MH370’

Authorities say submarines searching for MH370 will only be deployed when another signal is detected.

Searching ... Able Seaman Boatswain's Mate Cameron Grant directing the boat coxswain on a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) of HMAS Perth while searching for debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Source: AFP

MALAYSIA'S Prime Minister calls on the world to unite in prayer, saying he is "more optimistic" that MH370 can be found amid the discovery of two new signals.

Najib Razak tweeted that the update from Joint Agency Coordination Centre head and retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston had provided hope.

"Let's all pray," he wrote. "Through Angus Houston JACC informed us of d 2 new signals ... We are cautiously more optimistic."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the number of transmissions detected by Ocean Shield now stood at four.

"(The) signals will assist in better defining a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean floor," he said. "The better Ocean Shield can define the area, the easier it will be for the autonomous underwater vehicle to subsequently search for aircraft wreckage."

"I believe we are searching in the right area, but we need to visually identify aircraft wreckage before we can confirm with certainty that this is the final resting place of MH370," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

SEARCH FOR MH370: WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN

Optimistic ... Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (R) bids farewell to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak after his visit to Perth. Source: AFP

The news was warmly received by Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein who tweeted that Air Chief Marshal Houston was "very professional" and "seems (like) a good man."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said data analysis of the first two detections found they were consistent with "the specification and description" of a flight data recorder.

Two signals ... The chief co-ordinator of the Joint Agency Coordination Center Retired Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. Source: AP

According to work conducted by the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre at HMAS Albatross in Nowra NSW, it was not of natural origin and was "likely sourced" from specific electronic equipment.

Defence Minister David Johnston said he was confident that there is life in the black box despite the days that have passed.

"May I say the battery life in the black box transponder has a long way to go in our opinion, certainly several days into the future," Senator Johnston said.

A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion flying past Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield on a mission to drop sonar buoys to assist in the acoustic search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Source: AFP

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Playdate George is king of the kids

Prince George plays with other toddlers at the Plunket play group at Government House. Courtesy GovernorGeneralNZ

THE third in line to the British throne was just a regular kid grabbing for toys as he played with 10 Kiwi babies at Government House in the New Zealand capital.

Toys were piled in the middle of the Blundell room as the tots, all eight-months old, played under grand chandeliers and formal portraits lining the walls.

PICTURES: ROYAL TOUR OF AUSTRALIA AND NZ

Prince George, dressed in navy blue overalls and a white T-shirt, was carried by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she mingled with other parents in the room.

Her boy ... Prince George cuddles his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge at Government House.

Son and hair ... Prince George seems to be as taken with his mother's famous locks as the rest of the world. Source: AFP

Kate was dressed in a knee-length black and white patterned dress, with black high-heel shoes.

Just metres away, chatting easily with parents, Prince William was dressed in a blue shirt, dark blue jeans, a brown and white patterned belt and brown loafers.

Too cute ... a delighted Catherine with Prince George at Government House. Source: Twitter

Prince George was keen to interact with the other babies, reaching for Lily Gray while she was being held in her mother Alana's arms.

Big day out ... Prince George has fun playing with some new toys at Government House. Source: Getty Images

His royal prerogative shone through, however, when he took a shine to a wooden doll in possession of young Amelia Howe.

King of the kids ... Prince George is safely snuggled in the arms of his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge. Source: AP

He reached for the doll, and snatched it from Amelia, before throwing it to the floor.

Prince George's 10 playmates were all chosen from families in the Wellington region, all with first-time parents.

Serious face .. Prince George, who is starting to crawl, plays with Eden Alve. Source: AFP

Their kids were born within a week or two of Prince George, who was born on July 22 last year.

Happy chatter and gurgles filled the room as babies crawled between the legs of their parents, the royals and Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Pride and joy ... litte George is never far from the watchful eye of his mother, Catherine. Source: AP

Occasional wails broke out but on the whole the babies behaved admirably on an occasion which will be retold to them their whole lives.

At 3.30pm (1.30pm AEST) all 11 sets of parents sat in a circle on the thick carpet, the babies getting stuck into their toys while the parents talked.

Seeing double ... Prince George enjoys his toys almost as much as his dad, Prince William Duke of Cambridge did at around the same age in 1982. Pictures: Getty/File Source: Supplied

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Con kills governor during haircut

World's worst haircut ... a prisoner stabbed the prison governor 17 times with scissors while cutting his hair. Source: News Limited

A TAJIK court has extended a prisoner's jail term to the maximum 30 years after the former professional hairdresser stabbed the prison governor to death with scissors while giving him a haircut, prosecutors say.

The 29-year-old prisoner stabbed the prison governor 17 times in the head and body after being summoned to his office to cut his hair in February.

The governor of the prison in southern Tajikistan's Khatlon province died before reaching hospital.

The prisoner was already serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison term for stabbing a young man 57 times with a knife after they quarrelled.

The mountainous Central Asian country is the poorest former Soviet republic, with around 40 per cent of the population living in poverty.

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‘Someone is stabbing people!’

Evacuation ... students leave Franklin Regional High School where 20 students were stabbed. Source: AP

A STUDENT has stabbed or slashed 20 teenagers and an adult in a bloody 30-minute rampage in the classrooms and hallways of a US high school, officials say.

Several had life threatening injuries, Chris Kaufmann, the trauma medical director at Forbes Regional Hospital, told CNN.

The attack at Franklin Regional High School, just outside Pittsburgh, began at 7.13am on Wednesday as students began arriving for what should have been a routine day.

"I was walking into the school and a stampede of people were running after me," Kari Lee, a student at the school, told NBC News.

"They were screaming, 'Go to your cars! Go to your cars! Someone is stabbing people!

"It was really scary but it happened so fast I didn't know what to think."

The assault was over by 7.45am with the suspect taken into custody almost immediately, Dan Stevens, a spokesman for Westmoreland County emergency management, said.

Bloody horror ... of the 20 students injured, four were flown from the scene. Source: Supplied

Mr Stevens identified the suspect as a male student.

Stevens said he was cornered by police officers who rushed to the scene. His age and identity were not immediately released.

"Twenty students were injured, four of those students were flown from the scene," Mr Stevens said.

He said the victims are aged 14 to 17 and were attacked in "numerous classrooms and hallways" of the school.

The school has since been evacuated.

Shock ... a pair of women walk arm-in-arm off the campus. Source: AP

Mr Kaufmann said his hospital was treating seven teenage students and an adult over the age of 21.

A statement on the website of the Franklin Regional School District said a "critical incident" had occurred.

"All elementary schools are cancelled, the middle school and high school students are secure," the statement said.

Victims had been stabbed in the torso, Mr Kaufmann said.

"These are quite serious injuries," he told CNN.

Emergency response ... police gather in the parking lot of the high school. Source: AP

"We had two patients who went immediately to the operating room," Mr Kaufmann said.

Wednesday's attack comes after a long and frequent line of US school shootings that have inflamed a nationwide debate over gun control in the United States.

Meanwhile, a separate stabbing attack at an office building in Toronto left as many as five people injured, with one victim rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

A suspect — a man in his 30s — had been arrested, police said.

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