Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Wednesday, July 13, and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Asian Conference of Criminal and Operations Psychology to be held

A conference that will look into emerging trends in crime, safety and security, as well as how psychology figures in, will be officially opened in Singapore today (July 13).

The third Asian Conference of Criminal and Operations Psychology is organised by the Home Team Psychological Services at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Besides criminals, the conference will also delve into how terrorists think.

Theresa May to become new British PM

Mrs Theresa May will become Britain's new prime minister today (July 13) and will lead Britain into talks to quit the European Union.

She became the only contender for the post after her only rival to succeed Mr David Cameron, Mrs Andrea Leadsom, abruptly quit the race on Monday (July 11).

She has served for the past six years as interior minister, regarded as one of the toughest jobs in government, and cultivated a reputation as a tough and competent pragmatist.

Ms May has adopted the mantra "Brexit means Brexit", declaring on Monday there could be no second referendum and no attempt to rejoin the EU by the back door.

Release of China's trade figures for June

China will release last month's trade data today (July 13), with economists expecting a contraction for the 20th straight month on declining commodity prices and weak demand in the world's second-largest economy.

Exports may fall 4.1 per cent, the same rate as in May, while imports are forecast to decline 5 per cent, after slipping just 0.4 per cent the previous month.

China's trade surplus stood at US$49.98 billion (S$68 billion) in May.

Malaysia's monetary policy expected to remain unchanged

Malaysia's central bank is expected to leave monetary policy unchanged today (July 13), as the Brexit vote has not had a significant short-term impact on the country's economy.

The benchmark rate has been held steady since July 2014, when it was raised by 25 basis points to 3.25 per cent. Bank Negara Malaysia's policy rate is, however, expected to be cut in coming months.

Southeast Asia's third-largest economy has seen slowing growth over the past five quarters, but steady exports and resilient private spending leave the central bank "relatively sanguine" about growth prospects.