Australia's military has been deployed to tackle devastating "once-in-a-century" floods that have inundated homes, schools and airports in northern Queensland state. About 1,000 troops were helping with rescues and filling sandbags in and around the worst-hit city of Townsville. More heavy rain and storms are forecast and the bad weather is set to spread south, the national weather bureau said.

Singapore's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for January dipped 0.4 point to 50.7 from the previous month, the lowest it has been in two years and the fifth straight month of decline. The key electronics segment contracted for a third straight month, although the overall manufacturing sector is still expanding.