this is bbc news. the headlines at 9am: theresa may abandons plans to give mp5 3 vote on over—turning the ban on fox—hunting in this parliament. ifi if i look back at what the messages we got from the election, one of the clear messages we got was a number of areas in which people were concerned about what we were proposing. the prime minister will carry out a cabinet reshuffle tomorrow. there are reports that up to six ministers could either lose theirjobs or be moved. some of the uk's largest retailers agree to stop selling acids and corrosive substances to customers under 18 years old. german chancellor angela merkel is to begin a new round of coalition talks in a bid to end the country's political stalemate. also in the next hour, plans to plant 50 million trees to create a northern forest between liverpool and hull. the government is providing nearly £6 millions,

with planting planned over the next 25 years. england face another defeat in the final ashes test after australia once again dominated on the fourth day in sydney. and our sunday morning edition of the papers is at 9:35am. this morning's reviewers are sian griffiths from the sunday times and prashant rao from the international new york times. good morning and welcome to bbc news. theresa may will abandon plans for mps to get a vote on fox hunting before 2022 when the next general election is due to be held. in an interview on the bbc‘s andrew marr show, she confirmed she would be going back on the pledge she made in last year's manifesto. our political correspondent

eleanor garnier reports. it has been illegal to set a pack of hounds on a fox for more than a decade in england and wales. instead, hunts have had to follow specially laid trails of scent. many conservatives and campaigners would like the hunting act to be scrapped to allow horses and hounds to go back to the way things were. but having lost the tories their parliamentary majority in last year's general election, theresa may's plans to give mps a vote on the issue were pushed back to 2019. now, in an attempt to improve her party's fortunes, the prime minister has gone one step further. one of the clear messages we got on a number of areas was when people are concerned about what we were proposing.

just as we have looked at issues on school funding and tuition fees and housing, we are taking forward approaches in relation to that. on this issue of fox hunting, what i can say is that there will not be a vote during this parliament. for now, then, there is little chance the law on fox hunting will be changing any time soon. we can now speak to chris pitt from the charity the league against cruel sports, which has been campaigning to keep the fox hunting ban in place. what is your view on the change of heart from the prime minister?m what is your view on the change of heart from the prime minister? it is obviously welcome. it is good to know the role not be a vote during this parliament. but obviously we have to be slightly cautious. this is clearly a political move. a solid reaction to hunting during the election. i think the government saw how people are passionate about animals and keeping fox hunting

banned. there is obviously a move from the government to be aware of animal welfare, which is great. but there was wording around the statement of this parliament, what does it mean for the next parliament? will we come back to this? theresa may has said that she supports fox hunting and that view remains. so that is a bit of a shame. we would hope that people would recognise the bar by rick nature of this and see it for what it is. have effective do you think the ban is? the hunting act is a strong piece of legislation. it

was designed to stop people killing animals for fun. however, was designed to stop people killing animals forfun. however, we was designed to stop people killing animals for fun. however, we are seeing hunts trying to jump through loopholes where they can. they are using trail hunting, which was only invented when the hunting ban came m, invented when the hunting ban came in, which effectively means they still claim their homes to follow the trail. then they say it was an accident if an animal is killed. it is hard to say to the hunt that it was done on purpose. it is happening again and again. animals are being killed and the hunts are seeing it as an accident. sub needs strengthening of the hunting act. we need something of a recklessness

clause which will put the onus of proof on the hunts to say it was an accident. we need some strengthening going on and we need the government, if they are really intent on stopping fox hunting, the need to be prosecuting the hunts as they are going at the moment. there is illegal hunting happening everyday. you say people care passionately about this and i know some people definitely do, but equally for most voters do you think this is really an issue? don't you think they care more aboutjobs an issue? don't you think they care more about jobs and an issue? don't you think they care more aboutjobs and hospitals and schools and someone? absolutely. it seems quite interesting that fox hunting became one of the big issues of the election last year. because it probably shouldn't have been. were not suggesting it is more important than some of the issues you mentioned, but it shows people

are passionate about animals and protecting animals. 85% of people wa nt fox protecting animals. 85% of people want fox hunting to remain illegal, according to a recent poll. it was banned ten years ago or 12 years ago. we shouldn't still be talking about it. but hunts are still out there killing animals, just as they we re there killing animals, just as they were before the band. we need to get this legislation in place, make sure it is stronger and more rigorous so the hunts stop doing what they should stop doing a long time ago, so we can move on and talk about other things. thank you. the prime minister is to carry out a cabinet reshuffle tomorrow. it's not known yet what changes and appointments theresa may will make, but it's being reported that up to six ministers could either lose theirjobs or be moved. a downing street source has described such stories as "pure speculation" and "guesswork". our political correspondent

susana mendonca is here. we know there will be a reshuffle, we just we know there will be a reshuffle, wejust don't we know there will be a reshuffle, we just don't know who will be reshuffled ? we just don't know who will be reshuffled? very much speculation. the biggest one that could potentially be moved isjustine greening, the education secretary. we know there are those who think she is not singing from the same hymn sheet as the prime minister on theissue hymn sheet as the prime minister on the issue of grammar schools. she herself was educated in a comprehensive and has been a massive supporter of that. there are suggestions she could be moved into andrea leadsom's position as leader of the house. greg clark could potentially be moved. in terms of the names of people potentially staying, we understand philip hammond will probably stay. a lot of

brexit ears feel he has not been positive enough about the brexit project. amber rudd, borisjohnson and david davis will probably stay. there had been speculation before christmas that perhaps david davis would be moved elsewhere, but what message would that send to europe? we expect there will be some movement in terms of the new intake, so people who became mps in 2015, perhaps some of those will move up. we know the prime minister has had a lot of pressure from others and her tea m lot of pressure from others and her team who say that the need to promote some new talent. and also the idea that perhaps she could get more women in and people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. soul mix of potential movement. at the moment, speculation, so we're not sure. sun attempt to freshen up the government, but at the same time

she has to maintain this brexit balance. that's the key thing. she has to ensure there is a balance of brexit ears and remainders. before christmas, we saw a rebellion against the government on the vote that was about whether or not parliament was going to get a say in terms of the final brexit deal. the government lost that vote because remain tories backed that vote. and so what she doesn't want is to end up so what she doesn't want is to end up in so what she doesn't want is to end upina so what she doesn't want is to end up in a situation where she winds up with more people on the backbenches who potentially are unhappy that perhaps they have been reshuffled out of the cabinet and what have you, and then you have more rebels. so that is a key thing for. it is a tightrope you have to walk when you start doing reshuffles because you're always going to upset some people. we were talking about fox hunting. quite an interesting change

of heart by the prime minister on that. it is and isn't. fox hunting was one of those things at the general election that people seized on. abbas khan of going back to this idea of the conservatives as the nasty party. a lot of people feel that public opinion has moved away from fox hunting. it didn't go down very well at the general election. theresa may said at the time that any theresa may said at the time that a ny vote theresa may said at the time that any vote on that would be pushed back to 2019, and now it will be 2022. i don't think it is that surprising she wants to put that on the back burner because it's not really a vote winner. she has a lot of other things that people care about, such as the nhs, and those of

the things that people will want to focus on aside from brexit. thank you. some of the uk's largest retailers have voluntarily agreed to stop selling acids and corrosive substances to customers under 18—years—old. ministers hope the measure will help stop the rise in attacks until new laws are considered by parliament. here's our home affairs correspondent, dominic casciani. the human cost of an acid attack. where's it hurting, mate, your eyes? police officers pour water over the victim lastjuly. thieves wanted the london delivery driver's moped. his helmet saved him from serious injury. police recorded more than 500 attacks involving corrosive substances in england and wales in the year to last april. 0fficials think the true figure could be twice as high. ministers have launched an acid

action plan to cut attacks. today the first part of that plan, a voluntary ban by diy chains, including b&q, on selling harmful chemicals to under—18s. waitrose and the co—op are also involved, agreeing to challenge underage customers, just like they would if they were buying alcohol. acid attacks are most horrific crimes, and what we want to do is make sure that we restrict access, support victims, police these attacks really effectively. it isn't just major retailers who are signing up to secure their shelves. the association representing hardware shops urging them to play their part as well. this one in london says the move is long overdue. definitely a good idea. we have always checked id for acid. same thing, if you go to a supermarket and you go to buy alcohol, you are asked for id. it should be the same thing here. this measure may be a stopgap. ministers want a full ban on sales to under—18s, and have asked parliament to create a new crime for carrying acid without a good reason. the german chancellor angela

merkel‘s christian democrats will begin five days of talks later — to see whether they can form a coalition government with the social democrats. no new government has been formed since the election in september, when her party lost more than 60 parliamentary seats. 0ur correspondent damian mcguinness is in berlin. these talks could be angela merkel‘s last chance to form a stable governing coalition. in november, talks with the greens and the free—market liberals unexpectedly collapsed, meaning that angela merkel‘s centre—right bloc suddenly had no choice but to try and form a coalition with the centre—left social democrats. but we have had three months in germany since the elections and that is the longest time this country has ever known in this period of coalition building. so pressure is really building

to try and form a coalition as quickly as possible. now, it isn't a crisis because there is a caretaker government, but it does mean that long—term decisions — whether it be in the eu or here in germany — can't be made. now, the two sides don't agree on everything so there are certain key issues such as refugees, such as taxation, where the two sides disagree vehemently and these are ideological issues that they're going to find it difficult to agree on. but there are also common points of interest, one of them being, for example, the need to spend more on infrastructure here in germany. so there could be an agreement and if there is, we could see a government in place by easter. and one reason why the two sides could agree is because the alternative options are so unappealing — a minority government is seen as unstable, and fresh elections would certainly lead to a long period of uncertainty. so whatever the two sides disagree on, they can agree on that either of those options is not what they want. the headlines on bbc news:

theresa may is to abandon plans to give mps vote on fox hunting in this parliament. a cabinet reshuffle is planned for tomorrow. summer britain's biggest retailers agreed to stop selling assets and corrosive su bsta nces to to stop selling assets and corrosive substances to customers under the age of 18. coming up, final preparations being made for the golden globes. the first major ceremony since hollywood was hit by sexual harassment scandals. plans to create a new northern forest stretching from liverpool to hull have been announced by the government. it's providing £5.7 million to increase tree cover along a belt spanning manchester, leeds and bradford.

the woodland trust is running the project, which will cost £500 million over 25 years. most of that money will need to be raised by the charity itself. 0ur correspondent roger harrabin has more. the bare hills of the north. one of the most denuded parts of a country which itself has less woodland than almost anywhere in europe. the land stripped over centuries fortimberand farming, scarred by industry, overgrazed by sheep farming. at smithils near manchester, things will be different. planting has begun for what will be known as the northern forest. we think the northern forest will be a pathfinder for extending forest and woodland right across country. we think trees and woods can add value in many different landscapes. we just want to do it here first and do it big. it isn't really a forest. the project will create new woods near towns, and plant river valleys liable to flooding. but money is tight, and many of these hills will look just as bleak in 25 years.

what's more, the woodland trust expects some of their cash to come from environmental funds linked to the hs2 rail line. the supreme irony is that the government is giving with one hand and taking with the other, and i'm referring to the route of h52. north of birmingham, to manchester, threatening ancient woodlands. why can't the government give with both hands and stop threatening ancient forests? here is what some ambitious planting can do. this is the national forest in the midlands. begun in the 1990s, now delighting local people. acorns grow. more than 30 people are missing after an oil tanker caught fire after colliding with a cargo ship off the coast of east china. the tanker — which is registered in panama — was travelling from iran to south korea when it hit another vessel around 160 nautical miles off

the coast of shanghai. the 21 chinese crew members of the cargo ship have all been rescued. a growing number of men are being targeted by stalkers, according to new research by five live investigates. crime figures suggest around 450,000 men in england and wales experience stalking over the course of a year. but — according to data from 41 police forces — only 1,800 stalking offences against men have been recorded by officers over the past three years. it was one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of modern times. in 2003, the complete genetic code of a human being, the genome, was published. by the end of this year, it's hoped this code will help thousands of nhs patients who have rare diseases and unexplained conditions. this wouldn't have been possible without families taking part in the genome project. ben schofield went to meet one of them. this is you in your incubator.

for 19 years, doctors treated alex's symptoms without knowing exactly what was causing them. medics thought it was one rare condition, but genetic testing proved otherwise. he had 28 operations. there was always something else that was wrong whenever we checked. he had a skin condition, issues with his vision and hearing. you just need to know the answer. and as a parent, you want to know what is wrong with your child. this is the letter that i got in march telling me about your diagnosis. it was only by reading and decoding his entire genetic code,

known as his genome, that gave him a diagnosis last march. i remember reading it and actually crying knowing that they actually got to the diagnosis. and ijust could not believe that this letter appeared in the post. for mum, relief, and some certainty. from alex, a more modest response. it has been a big journey, it's just another part of my life. i don't think about it mostly. he may not think about it much, but alex has helped lead the way for potentially thousands of other patients to find the answers to their symptoms. and this is where those mysteries are being solved, a laboratory in cambridge where they discovered his genome. the genetic code is more than 3 billion letters long, and showed his condition is leopard syndrome. it is hoped that thousands of other patients with rare diseases will get

the diagnosis they have been looking for. it could hold the answers to curing... it is 15 years since the first human genome was completed. this man helped crack that first code which helps lead the "100,000 genomes project." it is a really exciting field right now. 15 years since sequencing the first genome, we can apply it to the nhs. as well as diagnosing rare diseases, it also develops personalised treatment, treatment specifically for patients rather than diseases. we are all slightly different. a lot of the information is encoded in the genes. looking at your genome, in the future, we will be able to work out what is the most appropriate treatment for you.

alex has the tell—tale freckles for leopard syndrome, as well as a host of other complications facing his heart and other organs. diagnosis does not mean a cure for him, but he starts better equipped than ever in 2018 to manage his condition. the east coast of north america is shivering in a record—breaking freeze. it comes after a massive snow storm that reached as far south as florida. temperatures are forecast to fall below minus 29 degrees celsius, as andrew plant reports. in the new year has brought new

record low temperatures to america's east coast. thermometers falling below —20 degrees. in these conditions, the homeless are particularly vulnerable. this shelter in boston are setting up dozens shelter in boston are setting up d oze ns of shelter in boston are setting up dozens of extra beds. this kitchen in washington, dc is handing out extra meals. the fear is those sleeping outside could freeze. extra meals. the fear is those sleeping outside could freezelj don't sleeping outside could freeze.” don't know if we have recorded any deaths based on the weather yet, but i think it is entirely possible. we are trying to help in any way we can. we are opening the centre between meals, we have warm clothing and we are providing people with hot meals. the weather system is slowly moving north along the atlantic coast. but it could have saved the

worst until last. with temperatures of —30 predicted this weekend. the wind has brought flooding, with water freezing around these cars. in new york, road salt has helped to keep things moving, but rural areas are struggling. so far, 19 people have died. temperatures are due to return to something like normal next week, but millions will have to get through some very tough conditions first. film awards season gets under way with the golden globes later — the first major ceremony since hollywood was hit by sexual harassment scandals. stars are expected to wear all black on the red carpet in a protest against misconduct in the industry. 0ur north america correspondent james cook reports from los angeles. in hollywood, they are getting ready

to put their best foot forward. this yea r‘s to put their best foot forward. this year's award season may be more protest a nd year's award season may be more protest and party. the dirty secrets of the movie business have been exposed in recent months and now scores of stars say they will wear black to the golden globes to promote a campaign called time is up. never thought it would happen in my lifetime, truly i didn't. i think tomorrow, people will be in black but i don't think you will be funereal, i think will be a of us saying, it is time to deal with this. we are wearing black to stand in solidarity, to represent and stand for all women across all industries and support them. and also to support equality in all its

forms. i have suffered all that and worse. by the time i got to the music business, ijust wasn't having it. i feel for those women because they have secrets and i know about secrets. i know about carrying secrets. i know about carrying secrets. know the secrets have been exposed and they are being set free, so exposed and they are being set free, so i'm happy for them. cleansing has already begun. kevin spacey was cut out of this film just weeks before its release. christopher plummer took over the role. co—star michelle williams told me she reshot her scenes for free. i couldn't bear the thought of being in a movie which glorified somebody who had her people in these ways. i wouldn't have gone to promote it. i wouldn't have gone to promote it. i wouldn't have talked about it because i would have talked about it because i would

have felt like it is not the right thing to do for those people who've been hurt. we don't need to be traumatised again by seeing this movie coming out, seeing posters and flashy advertisements, it's not appropriate. i didn't want any part it. the shape of water is tipped for awards. the sci—fi fantasy leads the field with seven nominations. humour and heartbreak in three billboards. the tender love story call me by your name is also in the running. so is the post, with tom hanks and meryl streep showcasing the power of the press. very much a story of the times. everything has changed this year. a few months ago, the entertainment industry was thrown

into turmoil and everyone here is only just into turmoil and everyone here is onlyjust beginning to work out what that means for the future. time for the weather with stav. cold and sunny afternoon for most of us. more sunshine today than what we had yesterday. and it really will feel cold. particularly in the south and south—east because there will be more of a breeze. further north, very white wins. some areas will not get above freezing cold day. for the northern isles, weatherfront brings outbreaks of rain. temperatures range from freezing to 6 degrees. in the south, more of a breeze. less cold here than in the north. we start monday morning on a cold and frosty note. more breezy than today.

cloud across the south gradually sinks its way northwards. feeling quite cold and raw.