A few hours ago an Australian Navy vessel is reported to have picked up two extended signals from deep underwater, in what authorities described as the best lead yet in the month-long search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who is leading the multinational search off Australia's west coast, said the first of two signals is consistent with pings emitted by an aircraft’s “black box” flight recorders and was 'held' for more than two hours. The second signal was picked up on a return trip along the same path and held for about 13 minutes.