secrets law are due to hear the verdict in their case. the reuters journalists had been investigating reports of a massacre of ten rohingya men, allegedly at the hands of buddhist villagers and the army. the un says migrants crossing the mediterranean sea face an increasingly deadlyjourney and calls on europe to do more to try to save lives. and there's another twist in the uk's brexit negotiations. the european union's chief brexit negotiator, michel barnier, says he strongly opposes parts of the british government's plan for the country's future relationship with the eu. britain's prime minister says she will not compromise. that's all. stay with bbc world news. and the top story in the uk: former prime minister gordon brown is urging labour to adopt the internationally agreed definition of anti—semitism, saying the soul of the party is at stake. now on bbc news, live to singapore for asia business report. from nafta to joiner,

from nafta tojoiner, the us pivots its attention back to beijing this week as a third round of tariffs and $200 billion worth of chinese goods could take affect —— china. investing in singapore's heritage. we talk to a business person with a portfolio specialising in the little red book's iconic shop houses. good morning, asia. hello, world. it's a monday, the start of a brand—new business week, glad you could join us for this edition of asia business report, i'm rico hizon. it's not only a brand—new

monday, a new tweet from us president donald trump, who has slammed canada for decades of abuse over the north america free trade agreement. the two countries ended negotiations on friday u nsuccessfully a nd now negotiations on friday unsuccessfully and now they have 90 days to sort out their differences oi’ days to sort out their differences or leave the trade relationship with the us and mexico. washington ratcheted up trade tensions to another level with china. industry sources said donald trump plans to put on tariffs on $200 billion of chinese imports as soon as the sixth of september. management consultant richard martin said chief executives throughout the asian region are deeply concerned about the outcome of these talks. two things are happening right now in the region. the first isn't particularly good, a product bound for the us from china is being dumped in nearby markets in asia. we're getting reports from

clients in southeast asia, in particular chemical products, that kind of thing, dropping into their market and knocking down prices, that's not a plus. the second thing going on in the region is everyone who's in the manufactured products space, supplying from china into the united states, and that's a lot of companies, they're united states, and that's a lot of companies, they‘ re out looking united states, and that's a lot of companies, they're out looking for alternative production sites now. they're not going to be able to move a lot in the short—term. all they really have to do is establish whether they can get production up and running in south east asia. they're looking and running in south east asia. they‘ re looking and and running in south east asia. they're looking and vietnam, they‘re looking at thailand, can they move across to south asia? india is one of the ones they're looking at there. those teams are out in the markets right now about the waiting alternative production sites. indeed, major headache for many asia—pacific ceos and they're trying to come up with contingency plans if we have a full—blown trade war between the americans and the chinese? that's right, but they do

not expect it to end any time soon. a month or so ago everyone was hoping it will wrap up before we get to the mid—term us elections in november. that's now of the cards. it looks like both sides, china and the united states, arejust buckling down for a contest that will go into 2019. even if they resolve it in 2019, most ceos of large manufacturing firms are leaving the issue of changing their supply chain on the agenda. they think this issue of economic nationalism is with us in the long—term now. even if there isa in the long—term now. even if there is a resolution in early 2019, there will be a shift of manufacturing capacity in asia. management consultant richard morgan joining us earlierfrom sydney. in other business news making headlines, the eu chief brexit negotiator says he is strongly opposed to key parts of the uk

proposalfor a opposed to key parts of the uk proposal for a future trade deal. over the weekend, prime minister theresa may said she would not allow compromises to her strategy that went against the national interest as she tried to calm fears she will cave in to brussels' demands. the uk is due to leave the eu on the 29th of march, but is yet to agree how its final relationship with the bloc will work. argentina is set to announce new measures today to try coup, to contain its worst currency crisis in recent yea rs. contain its worst currency crisis in recent years. the peso has lost almost half its value this year as investors are uneasy about the country's ability to meet its debt obligations. over the weekend the main argentinian newspaper reported as many as ten newspapers are likely to be axed in an attempt to stave costs, but also to show a change in leadership. in asia, the indonesian rupiah and the indian rupee have been caught up in the emerging market contagion, that means investment worried about

economic issues in argentina and turkey are avoiding risk altogether and so they are pulling out their funds from other emerging markets. candy rupiah and the rupee stem the slide in their currencies? a currency analyst says both currencies are expecting a spillover affect —— can be. these two countries are prone to trade deficits, and this is the issue, their suspect to higher oil prices. inder particularly. looking at the indian economy, it has an eye watering 8.2% gdp on friday, but trade is focused on trade balance. when trade balance is front and centre, driven primarily by higher oil prices, this becomes a bit negative and this is what is driving the weaker currency in my view. the indian rupee is at a record low and the indonesian rupiah is at two decade low levels we haven't seen since the 1997 asian financial crisis, is there a risk for other emerging asian currencies to be

affected by what has happened to the rupee and rupiah? all the emerging market currencies in general are on that slippery slope, and we're starting to see possibility of an escalation and a trade war with china bring more... bring other currencies onto that slope. yes, there could be more contagion through the based. but we're seeing the thai baht being the most resilient of the lot, what are they doing right that the other two countries aren't? it's a strong capital account that looks attractive, but you have to remember they are a big tourist centre and they are a big tourist centre and the tourist industry is thriving, it accou nts the tourist industry is thriving, it accounts for roughly 22% of the gdp. i don't think people are going to stop going to thailand if there's an escalation of a trade war, they're solid on that front so that's why they're getting solid on that front so that's why they‘ re getting support. solid on that front so that's why they're getting support. currency expert there. all is new again, especially in singapore, shop houses in singapore have been booming and

according to investment management companyjl l sales were up nearly 50% in 2017 and this year they are on track to be even higher. we speak to one man who's been investing in these buildings to find out why they are all the rage for retail and office space. hi, my name is ashy should. we invest in shop houses in singapore. we've been doing that for about four yea rs. we have we've been doing that for about four years. we have around a0 shop houses through singapore. the fondest memories would have been playing football and cricket down one of these streets. everyone lived very close to each other, they knew each other very well. the market has increased quite a lot, but i think it's also coming offa lot, but i think it's also coming off a low base. still at a fraction

off a low base. still at a fraction of what prime retail space would be valued at. i think we've still got a way to go. the conservation buildings, they're typically very nice. beautiful, usually in a cluster in areas where... areas usually in a cluster in areas where. .. areas that usually in a cluster in areas where... areas that are completely conserved. hence there is some architectural value and benefits in terms of refurbishing. they're generally well located, so close to business districts, or well sought—after locations. close to infrastructure as well. a few years ago, a unit here would cost you anything between $1 million and $1.5 million. the same unit

would probably double today. there's a lot of restrictions around what you can do. for example, you can't change the facade of a shop house. you have to maintain the facade, although you campaign them. then that comes alongside with a lot of authorities‘ requirements and approval. it‘s not for everyone. it ta kes a approval. it‘s not for everyone. it takes a lot of time and effort to c0 nse rve takes a lot of time and effort to conserve these properties. investing in the shop houses here in singapore. now, quick check on things we‘re looking at for this week‘s business and economics calendar. we start with the australian central bank on tuesday holding their monthly monetary policy meeting. the official cost of borrowing there has been at a record low of 1.5% for two yea rs. been at a record low of 1.5% for two years. midweek, australia continues to be in focus withjuly years. midweek, australia continues to be in focus with july trade years. midweek, australia continues to be in focus withjuly trade data due to be here in the morning and rounding off the week, the monthly

usjobs report will rounding off the week, the monthly us jobs report will be closely watched for a health check on the world‘s biggest economy and what that could mean for american interest rates going forward. these events will surely impact asia—pacific markets as we continue to absorb china, us trade, china... well, canada and us trade tensions. this is currently impacting some sentiment on the markets this monday. the nikkei down by 112, but the all ordinaries up by ten. thank you so much for investing your time with us. i‘m rico hizon. goodbye for now. this is bbc news. the top stories this hour: two journalists investigating reports of atrocities in myanmar are to find out in the next few hours whether they‘ve been convicted of breaching the country‘s official secrets law. the un refugee agency has said that migrants trying to cross the mediterranean sea to reach europe are facing ever more deadlyjourneys. hundreds of prison staff have been

caught smuggling drugs, weapons and other banned items into jails in england and wales over the last six years. the new figures, obtained through a freedom of information request by the observer newspaper, show an 50% increase since 2012. ben ando reports. drugs, mobile phones, weapons, tobacco — all considered contraband in prison. friends, relatives, even drones used to be to blame, but increasingly the smuggling is by prison staff. figures from the ministry ofjustice show that, over the last six years, the number of prison officers found taking contraband into prisons in england and wales has gone up by more than half. in 2012, a5 prison staff were caught smuggling. but five years later, in 2017, that figure had gone up to 71. and the number of drugs finds has trebled, now running at an average of 35 every day.

since 2010, the overall prison workforce has fallen by more than 7,000. that‘s nearly a fifth, and despite a recruitment drive to bring in 2,500 new prison officers. some say that‘s caused a perfect storm of overworked, demoralised staff, and under—occupied, vulnerable prisoners. the reduction in officer numbers obviously means that there are fewer people to interdict the supply of drugs and to find out who‘s behind it. but secondly, the absence of officers means that the way of life for prisoners has become more and more restricted, which means you have a lot of bored and demoralised people, for whom drugs offer a way out of the misery of the prison sentence. injuly, prisons inspectors found that wandsworth prison in london, the most overcrowded in britain, had stopped scanning visitors for drugs and other banned items due to a lack of staff. the same month, a 25—year—old prison officer, lainie martin, was herselfjailed for smuggling contraband into forest bank prison in salford, greater manchester.

prison bosses say these figures reflect the actions of a tiny minority, and the vast majority of prison staff are hard—working and honest. but, coupled with record levels of violence, drug seizures and suicides, these figures will increases the impression of a prison service in crisis. ben ando, bbc news, at the ministry ofjustice. plenty more on all the stories we‘re covering of course on the bbc news website. you can get more from the. i‘m on twitter. i would love to hear from you —— you can get more from me. now on bbc news, sport today. hello, this is sport today, live from the bbc sport centre. coming up on this programme: mourinho‘s manchester united win 2—0 at burnley, to ease the pressure

on their under—fire manager. hamilton crashes the ferrari party in monza, as he extends his lead at the top of the drivers championship with victory in the italian grand prix. and serena williams moves through to the us open quarter—finals, and a match against another former world number one in karolina pliskova. hello and welcome to the programme, where we start with football news, as manchester united got their premier league season back on track with a 2—0 victory over burnley. it comes after back—to—back premier league defeats against brighton and tottenham, which had managerjose mourinho and executive vice—chairman ed woodward under intense pressure. but lukaku‘s goals eased the tension, although marcus rashford was sent off for for leaning into burnley defender phil bardsley with his head in the second half.