A key al-Shabab leader in Somalia, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, has so far refused to surrender, elders from his clan have told the BBC Somali Service.

The UN has reported that Mr Aweys has handed himself over to a pro-government administration in central Somalia after falling out with al-Shabab's leader.
But Mr Aweys is in Galmudug region with his militia with the consent of the local authorities, the elders say.
They had flown there from the capital to see if he was willing to make peace.
Mr Aweys is seen as the elder statesman of Somali Islamists and has been on a US list of people "linked to terrorism" since shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Analysts say the administration in Adado - a town about 500km (310 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu - where Mr Aweys arrived earlier in the week, does not want to provoke clashes.
Mr Aweys left al-Shabab territory after factions within the al-Qaeda linked group clashed last week - the first deadly infighting since it launched an insurgency in 2006.
Elders from Mr Aweys' Haber Gedir clan, which is powerful in the Galmudug region, told the BBC they had been trying to mediate his surrender after his arrival in Adado.
They do not officially represent the UN-backed government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, though it seems likely he is fully aware of the negotiations taking place, the BBC's international development correspondent Mark Doyle says.
The elders told the BBC Somali Service that negotiations with the al-Shabab commander had so far failed.
Mr Aweys denied that he had left al-Shabab and refused to go to Mogadishu, join the government or enter mediation talks with the government, they said.
Analysts say if the split within al-Shabab is serious, Mr Aweys may try to leave the country.
If he stays in central Somalia he is at risk of capture from Ethiopian troops, who back the Somali government, they say.
Al-Shabab, which means "The Youth", is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia - and despite being pushed out of key cities in the past two years still remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside.
It was formed in 2006 as a radical offshoot of the now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which was led by Mr Aweys and for much of that year controlled Mogadishu and many southern and central areas.
The exact cause of the al-Shabab split is not known, but there has been a long-running internal power struggle between its leader Ahmed Abdi Godane and those seen as more moderate who oppose links with al-Qaeda, analysts say.
There are conflicting reports about the fate of the second-in-command - Ibrahim Afghan, the al-Shabab founder - following last week's fighting. Initially, sources told the BBC he had been captured and was in al-Shabab detention; subsequent reports in local media say he has been executed.
Some 18,000 African Union troops are in Somalia supporting the government of President Mohamud who was elected by MPs last September.
His administration is the first one in more than two decades to be recognised by the US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).


Alvin Toffler, the author of Future Shock and other works predicting social, economic and technological change, has died at the age of 87.

Future Shock, which sold 15 million copies, defined people's anxiety at the pace of social change in the 1960s.
Toffler popularised terms such as "information overload" and his works led world leaders and business moguls to seek his advice.
He predicted the rise of the internet and decline of the nuclear family.
He died in his sleep late on Monday at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Although many writers in the 1960s focused on social upheavals related to technological advancement, Toffler wrote in a page-turning style that made difficult concepts easy to understand.
Future Shock (1970) argued that economists who believed the rise in prosperity of the 1960s was just a trend were wrong - and that it would continue indefinitely.
The Third Wave, in 1980, was a hugely influential work that forecast the spread of emails, interactive media, online chat rooms and other digital advancements.
But among the pluses, he also foresaw increased social alienation, rising drug use and the decline of the nuclear family.
Not all of his futurist predictions have come to pass. He thought humanity's frontier spirit would lead to the creation of "artificial cities beneath the waves" as well as colonies in space.
One of his most famous assertions was: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, China Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang and Mexican business guru Carlos Slim were among those who sought his advice.
The futurologist, also termed futurist by some, was born to Jewish Polish immigrants in 1928 and honed his theories working for IBM and other technology firms in the 60s.
Toffler is survived by his wife, Heidi, with whom he collaborated on many of his books.


Councillors in Orkney have approved a 3% council tax rise.

The increase will add £31 to bills for a Band D property.
Local authorities have been increasing the basic rate of council tax by up to 3% for the first time since 2007, however higher-band properties are paying more automatically after MSPs approved changes.
The 3% rise will see Band H properties in Orkney pay £542.60 more.


An armed robber is being sought by police following a raid on a Hampshire convenience store.

A man, covering his face and holding what appeared to be a handgun, demanded cash from staff at the One Stop store in Bordon at 18:40 GMT on Saturday.
A quantity of cash and other items were handed over by a staff member before the offender fled the scene on foot.
Police appealed for information from customers in the store and said extra patrols were being carried out.


Plaintive appeals and warnings from pro-European Labour MPs, backed up now by a prominent union leader, that the party must do more to help bring about a vote to remain in the EU have been taken as an implicit rebuke to Jeremy Corbyn.

They are precisely that.
Mutinous grumbling among backbenchers has become part of the background noise to all Labour Party politics at Westminster, constant as the song of crickets on a warm summer evening and so far about as harmless to the leader many of them privately despise.
If this referendum ends in the momentous outcome of a vote to leave - and that is perfectly possible - and Labour MPs at Westminster are left asking themselves and each other who is to blame, many of them will cast wrathful glances in the direction of their leader.
But will their public and private rebukes be fair?
True, Mr Corbyn's efforts to support the Remain campaign have been rather late in coming.
True, his support for a union he's been criticising for most of his political life, if not opposing outright, is heavily qualified.
The most frequently asked question on Twitter after the speech was, apparently: "Was the Jeremy Corbyn speech for the Leave campaign?."
But from both sides of this referendum struggle it's become accepted that the Leavers have much the stronger "ground campaign"; the volunteers and organisers knocking on doors, posting leaflets, working the crowd in shopping malls and preparing to get out the vote on polling day.
Often, they are Conservative activists. Sometimes they hail from the ranks of UKIP.
Worryingly for the Remainers, the imbalance also owes something to the Labour Party's inability, or unwillingness in many places, to throw the weight of its activist base into the struggle.
Almost every Labour MP I talk to tells me almost every other doorstep they visit reveals another message of concern about mass migration, if not an actual promise of a vote to leave.
Critical MPs are quick to blame Mr Corbyn's lack of conviction, as they see it, in making the case to remain.
For all his promises to take his message the length and breadth of the country, with no "no-go areas", he has arguably arrived in the front line of battle a little late in the day.
His latest appearance followed a brief holiday.
But has every Labour MP done all they possibly could to harness the efforts of every last sympathetic activist in their constituency?
One Labour MP told me, grudgingly, the answer was no.
Why? Demoralisation, after a period of division and tension since the Labour leader was elected was offered as one reason.
The possibility that Labour MPs have been taken by surprise by the depth of apathy and outright hostility among Labour's natural supporters was sheepishly suggested as another.
There is plenty of evidence that a lot of Labour supporters - no doubt in common with supporters of all parties and none at all - are still confused about the issues.
Remain campaign organisers and MPs I speak to still believe they are best placed to win; that risk aversion and a craving for economic security will carry the day for them.
But in many cases, unmistakeable nervousness about the verdict of the voters is beginning to set in.
If the vote is to leave - with all the potentially cataclysmic political consequences that might follow - and pro-European Labour MPs are left asking who's to blame, maybe, just maybe, some of them need look no further than their own bathroom mirror.


Former Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn says his dog could have negotiated better than venue bosses after details of West Ham's Olympic Stadium contract were published.

The Hammers will pay £2.5m rent annually but will not have to fund police, stewarding, heating, pitch maintenance, or even corner flags.
"My dog could have negotiated a better deal for the taxpayer," said Hearn.
West Ham said it was "a great deal" for the club and the public.
The Premier League club move to the 60,000-seater stadium from the Boleyn Ground, which has a 35,000 capacity, at the end of this season.
Olympic Stadium bosses, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), fought a ruling that the deal should be published, but the appeal was rejected this week.
On Thursday, full details of the 207-page contract were published for the first time, including that:
West Ham have paid £15m towards the £272m costs of transforming the stadium into a football venue.
Hearn, who unsuccessfully tried to get the Hammers to groundshare with Orient at the Olympic Stadium, told BBC Sport: "It's a hugely beneficial deal to West Ham and good luck to them.
"They've negotiated a good deal. I can't say the same for the LLDC who should go back to negotiation school.
"Frankly it was a hot potato that [London mayor] Boris Johnson and the LLDC wanted to get rid of. They wanted to close a deal at any price and they will say 'quite rightly because we didn't have anyone else'."
The LLDC fought publication on the grounds of commercial sensitivity and fear the decision to publish will cost it million of pounds in lost revenue.
"The stadium needs to be a profitable and successful commercial operation, otherwise it will rely on public subsidy," said a spokesperson.
West Ham insist the club have nothing to hide and believe their position as anchor tenant helps ensure the stadium does not become a "white elephant".
"We were unanimously chosen as the anchor tenant, above others, including football clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient, as we offered the best deal and the only option for a true and lasting legacy," said a Hammers statement.
The deal was published after a lengthy legal battle following an initial freedom of information request from an alliance of 14 supporters' groups.
"This is a victory for the power of football supporters - organised, focused and willing to work together to achieve a collective goal," said a coalition statement.
Aside from West Ham, who will rent the venue for 25 days a year, the venue will host concerts and other sporting events, including the IAAF and IPC Athletics World Championships next year.


Are you being bombarded by phone calls from call centres?

It is estimated that we receive a staggering three billion cold calls from telemarketing companies a year.
The Citizens Advice Bureau is getting a growing number of complaints from the public about cold calling and companies' techniques.
A BBC One current affairs documentary would like to hear about your experiences. Would you be happy to talk to a BBC journalist?


Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen says Monday's auction for the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition was "another slap in Test cricket's face".

England duo Ben Stokes and Tymal Mills were bought for £1.7m and £1.4m by Rising Pune Supergiants and and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively.
Pace bowler Mills only plays Twenty20 cricket because of back pains.
"A T20 specialist becomes one of the current England team's richest players," said Pietersen.
Pietersen has not played an international match since he was sacked by England in 2014.
He has since become a T20 specialist and played in competitions in Australia, India, South Africa, the West Indies and in the Pakistani T20 tournament held in the UAE.
"I embraced [T20] eight years ago and it's what caused me my P45," said the 36-year-old on social media. "I absolutely love how all these youngsters are now benefiting.
"I love how T20 is growing the game. I'm just saying that Tests are falling way behind at the moment. The ICC [International Cricket Council] needs to act and quick."
England players Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy and Chris Jordan were also bought in the auction, while Jos Buttler and Sam Billings were retained by their franchises.
The fee paid for 25-year-old all-rounder Stokes made him the the most expensive overseas player in IPL history.
"It's a life-changing amount of money," said Stokes. "I'm struggling to put it into words.
"I hadn't thought about how much I would go for. I guess having more than one team wanting me was probably the best position to be in.
"I just wanted to get picked up and play. I haven't been able to play in the past so that was the main thing, anything else was just a bonus.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting involved."


Housing sector leaders are urging government to divert billions earmarked for home ownership schemes into social and affordable rented housing to counter an expected post-Brexit downturn.

Private housebuilding in England has been falling amid the uncertainty of the referendum campaign and there are already industry reports of a reduction in new commercial activity since the vote.
"Uncertain times call for pragmatism and flexibility," the chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), David Orr, said on Monday.
"Today, the sector puts forward a plan of action for the prime minister to keep the nation building and tackle the housing crisis. It is a plan that comes at no extra cost to the taxpayer and one that will improve the life chances of hundreds of thousands of working people in this country."
Housing associations are arguing that they be allowed to use some of the £7bn set aside for government discounted starter homes and shared ownership schemes to build affordable homes to rent or buy.
This, they argue, will keep Britain building during the construction downturn.
The call comes just days after a report from the House of Lords Economics Affairs Committee also recommended local authorities and housing associations be "freed to build substantial numbers of homes for rent and for sale" to tackle the housing crisis.
The consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) suggests a construction slowdown may be on the horizon. In analysis for the NHF, it warns that a 2008-type downturn would wipe out more than a third of GDP growth and cost almost 120,000 jobs in the next decade.
Brexit and housing: Radical ideas wanted
Five changes to your finances following the vote
Why can't Britain build enough homes to meet demand?
How will the extension of Right to Buy actually work?
The NHF, which represents housing associations, points out that their members increased their output by 22% during the last recession, as private development dropped 37%.
But that increase could only happen because central government provided grant support for social and affordable rented housing, money currently focused almost exclusively on homes for sale.
Billions have been allocated to encourage largely private developers to offer discounted starter homes for first-time buyers and shared ownership products.
The new ministerial team now responsible for housing in England will want to take time to consider the proposal.
Housing Minister Gavin Barwell told the Commons on Monday that decisions on affordable housing will be made by the chancellor in his Budget, but conceded that a powerful case had been made for further investment in both homes for rent as well as sale. "We need a mix of tenures - a mix of offers," he said.
In the Queen's Speech in May, the government gave a commitment to build a million new homes by 2020.
Now, the fear is that commercial builders will be much more reluctant to take the risk on new development. Two brickworks in Lancashire have announced plans to turn off their kilns until the prospects improve, usually a sign of an impending downturn.
The increase in supply, desperately needed to deal with the housing shortage, looks unlikely to happen without a change of tack. Figures from the Office for National Statistics released on Monday show the average house in the UK now costs a record £211,000, up 8.1% on a year ago.
Private housebuilding supports around a quarter of a million jobs and is worth around £30bn to the economy annually.  Ministers know that a big fall in construction activity would slow economic growth and could see the UK fall into a recession.
The NHF, along with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), are suggesting to ministers that £4.7bn of planned funding for shared ownership and supported housing, along with £2.3bn available to clean up brownfield sites for starter homes, should be switched to building 300,000 affordable homes, including social housing.
"Local authorities and housing associations are not dependent on shareholder sentiment and are able to keep housing supply going when the private sector stalls without requiring extra government spending," CIH director of policy Gavin Smart said on Tuesday.
"They are ready and able to work with government to make sure we keep housebuilding going."


Striker Alan Forsyth says Scotland will relish facing some of the world's top teams in London in the next week.

The Blue Sticks are contesting their first ever World League semi-final, having defied their modest world ranking to reach the Lee Valley event.
The Scots - coached by Alan's father Derek - play India, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Canada in Pool B.
"We play hockey to play against the best so it's a great opportunity for us," Forsyth, 25, told BBC Scotland.
"We do have a tough group but we're now at that level where, whatever team you get, it's going to be a tough game.
"That's why they are all in the top 13 teams in the world."
The Hockey World League semi-final in London features 10 teams and precedes the second semi-final in Johannesburg, which takes place from 9-23 July.
Seven teams go through to the finals in Bhubaneswar to join hosts India in December.
Crucially, 10 teams from the London and Johannesburg semi-finals will join hosts India and the five continental champions at the 2018 World Cup, which is also being staged in the east Indian city.
Scotland began the tournament last September in World League 1, ranked 28th in the world.
Having qualified for the first of the semi-finals as the best ranked third-place finisher at World League 2, with a 4-0 win over Wales in Belfast, Scotland are now 23rd in the rankings.
However, they are the lowest-ranked nation in the tournament, some way short of their opponents.
In their opening game in London they play India, ranked sixth in the world, while the Netherlands are fourth, Pakistan 13th and Canada 11th.
Forsyth, formerly of Kelburne, will be a key man for the Blue Sticks and is the youngest player ever to reach 50 Scotland caps.
The Surbiton attacker, who made his Scotland debut in 2009, is also accustomed to playing against the world's best players as part of the Great Britain team.
Forsyth scored four goals in last month's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and was man of the match in the final when GB beat world champions Australia 4-3.
He not only wants to help Scotland reach the World Cup for the first time, but is desperately keen to emulate the Rio Olympic success of GB women's hockey team.
"I've always wanted to play hockey and at the highest level possible," said Forsyth, who has scored six goals in his 15 GB appearances.
"I want to be playing in Olympics, fighting for an Olympic gold medal.
"I'll always have that aim. You have your ups and downs but you've got that goal in sight and everyone at training with GB is chasing the same thing.
"I was disappointed not to play in Rio but I just look forward and hope that I'll be in Tokyo in 2020. I need to stay consistent and push myself to the next level."
Reading's Lee Morton and Kenny Bain of Dutch side HGC are among those in Derek Forsyth's 18-man squad, but it is the play of Scotland skipper Chris Grassick with which his Surbiton, Scotland and GB team-mate is most familiar.
Grassick has returned to the Scotland set-up having recovered from a cruciate ligament injury sustained while playing for GB a year ago.
Alan, the top scorer in England's Premier Division last season, said of the midfielder: "Chris is my best mate. He was one of the reasons I moved to Surbiton. He moved there two years before I did.
"It's nice to have a close friend doing the same as you. You can work off each other."
Wei Adams (Dusseldorf), Tommy Alexander (Reading), Russell Anderson (Cannock), Tim Atkins (Reading), Kenny Bain (HGC), Michael Bremner (Klipper), Gavin Byers (Grove Menzieshill), Callum Duke (Hillhead), David Forrester (Edinburgh University), Alan Forsyth (Surbiton), David Forsyth (Qui Vive), Chris Grassick (Surbiton), Ed Greaves (Loughborough University), Gordon McIntyre (Wimbledon), Willie Marshall (Surbiton), Lee Morton (Reading), Nick Parkes (Surbiton), Jamie Wong (Edinburgh University).


An Indian restaurant is taking legal action after a claim that a mouse had been found in a vegetable curry.

A diner at Shajan on Longsight Road in Lancashire's Ribble Valley claimed the rodent - later found to be a water shrew - was in their 17 September meal.
Shajan denied wrongdoing and cooperated with the council's environmental health team, which found it "unlikely the rodent had been in the ingredients or cooked due to [its] size".
Damages are sought from eight diners.
It is not known how the water shrew - with a trauma injury on its back possibly caused by a mouse trap - came to be in the curry.
Examination of the shrew's mouth cavity and stomach contents did not reveal any colouration from the spices used in the cooking of curries, the investigation added.
It concluded: "It was obvious [the shrew] would have been spotted during the preparation, cooking, or service of the food."
Potentially defamatory posts were made on social media after the incident, which have since been removed.
A solicitor representing the restaurant confirmed civil action for damages was being taken against eight diners who were part of the group in which the claim was made.
Michael Corrigan added: "We're also contacting police asking them if they could consider whether a criminal offence has been in effect here."
The Indian restaurant's owner Mohammed Ali said he was "relieved" to see "the truth will always come out".
Ribble Valley Borough Council said, like all food outlets, the Shajan Restaurant receives regular environmental health inspections and has had a maximum five-star rating since the introduction of the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in 2012.


Moscow-based security company Kaspersky Lab has denied working with Russian intelligence agencies, following US media and government suspicion.

News website Bloomberg said it had seen emails showing Kaspersky had developed tools for Russia's intelligence agency.
And, on Tuesday, the US government's General Services Administration removed Kaspersky Lab from a list of approved vendors.
But the company has now insisted it has "no ties to any government".
Kaspersky Lab is known for its anti-virus software and provides cyber-security products to businesses.
Bloomberg reported it had seen emails between chief executive Eugene Kaspersky and senior Kaspersky staff, outlining a secret cyber-security project apparently requested by the Russian intelligence service FSB.
In the emails Mr Kaspersky describes tools to "protect against attacks" and also engage "active countermeasures".
Bloomberg suggested that the tools not only deflected cyber-attacks, but also captured information about the hackers launching them, to pass on to Russian intelligence services.
In the emails, Mr Kaspersky said the software could one day be sold to corporate customers worldwide.
Refuting the claims, Kaspersky Lab said: "The communication was misinterpreted or manipulated to try to make the media outlet's narrative work.
"Kaspersky Lab is very public about the fact that it assists law enforcement agencies around the world with fighting cyber-threats, including those in Russia, by providing cyber-security expertise on malware and cyber-attacks."
However, the US General Services Administration said it had removed Kaspersky Lab from its list of government-approved suppliers "after review and careful consideration".
In a further statement, Kaspersky Lab said: "The company has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyber-espionage efforts.
"Kaspersky Lab believes it is completely unacceptable that the company is being unjustly accused without any hard evidence to back up these false allegations."
In the statement, Mr Kaspersky offered to meet US government officials and provide his company's software code for audit.
"Kaspersky Lab, a private company, seems to be caught in the middle of a geopolitical fight where each side is attempting to use the company as a pawn in their political game," the company said.
The Trump administration has been fighting allegations that it had contact with Russian officials during the US election in 2016.


Nile Rodgers, who played on Daft Punk's Get Lucky, is giving his other really famous song, Le Freak, a remix with help from a hundred 16 to 24-year-olds.

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9 October 2014 Last updated at 10:54 BST
The American musician said he decided to "create" the jobs after hearing about the number of unemployed people in the UK.
Roles included playing instruments on the track, being part of the promotional team and directing the music video.
He's teamed up with Rudimental and GoThinkBig - a company which offers paid work experience placements.
Nile Rodgers and Rudimental were talking to Newsbeat's Nesta McGregor.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube


US retail sales rose in March for the first time in four months, the US Commerce Department has said.

Increased spending on cars, furniture, clothing and building materials led to a 0.9% rise in overall sales compared with February, the figures show.
The figures suggest that shoppers are returning to stores after an unseasonably cold winter.
Core sales - which strip out spending on cars, petrol, building materials and restaurants - rose 0.3%.
Economists say that sales should continue to climb because of a year-long increase in the number of people in work, and lower petrol prices.
The unemployment rate has fallen to 5.5%, and the US economy has added about 250,000 jobs per month during the past year, leading to around three million more people in work.
At the same time, petrol has fallen to $2.39 (Â£1.62) a gallon, which is $1.30 cheaper than a year ago, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge.


Bolton's new manager Phil Parkinson has been assured the League One side's transfer embargo will be "dealt with".

The Trotters were placed under an embargo in December 2015 after they failed to submit required Financial Fair Play accounts.
Parkinson, who replaced Neil Lennon on Friday, stated he has been assured that he will be able to sign players.
"That [embargo] was the key part of my conversation, that's going to be dealt with," he said.
"Ken's [Anderson, chairman] got a meeting in the next week or so and he's confident that will be dealt with and we can move forward quickly and get some players in."
The former Bradford manager also said Bolton's newfound stability attracted him to the job.
"The club's had difficult times but there's been a lot of work behind the scenes to get the platform right to move the club forward again and that's why the job really appealed to me," he added.
"A lot of work goes on behind the scenes in football clubs that the supporters don't see, so I've come here with the belief that we're going to attract players which are going to be top, top end at this division at least. "


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he "100%" wants Wayne Rooney to stay, and he expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to extend his contract.

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Rooney, 31, announced last week that he is staying at Old Trafford, after being heavily linked with a move to China.
The England captain has also been linked with a return to former club Everton, but Mourinho said talk of such a move "makes no sense".
Striker Ibrahimovic's one-season deal includes an option for a second year.
The Swede, 35, has scored 26 goals in 38 appearances for United since joining on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain in July.
He scored twice in Sunday's 3-2 EFL Cup final victory over Southampton.
After the final, Ibrahimovic said he will "see what happens" about extending his contract.
Mourinho said: "I see him staying. The next transfer window will bring us to a different level because I will bring in a few players. Zlatan will be fundamental. I think he will stay."
On Rooney, he added: "What I have is a very strong message, 'I don't go anywhere. I want to fight with this team and help until the end of season'. 100% he will be with us for the rest of season.
"Next season, 100% I would like him to be with us, but always the player is very important."
United, who are sixth in the Premier League, host Bournemouth on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
Mourinho also backed Luke Shaw to make himself indispensable as United's left-back.
Shaw, 21, has not played since the 4-0 FA Cup win over Wigan at the end of January, but Mourinho hinted the England international would start against Bournemouth.
"In practical terms we have lots of left-backs," he said.
"It doesn't look like it, but the reality is that Daley Blind, Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian are all playing left-back and can play there. They are different players.
"I think the one that should be in the couple of years the best of all - because potentially he should have all the conditions to be the best of all - is Luke Shaw.
"By age, by physicality, by intensity, aggressive going forward, he should be the best. But to be the best you need to work hard. It's what he's trying to do."
BBC Sport's Simon Stone
Mourinho took the initiative at today's news conference. Sensing what was going to be asked as he sat down in front of the media, he said: "Rooney and Shaw."
He then proceeded to talk for four minutes and 20 seconds about club captain Rooney, and out-of-favour left-back Shaw, who are both in United's squad to face Bournemouth  on Saturday.
Mourinho said Shaw, who last played against Wigan in the FA Cup in January, has been "working hard" on his fitness.
On Rooney, Mourinho said the fact he was ready to come on at Wembley when Ibrahimovic scored his winner was proof the United captain remains a valued member of his squad.
The Portuguese said Rooney would "100%" be at United for the rest of the season, which is fairly obvious now the Chinese transfer window has closed.
However, after comments from Everton this week suggesting the England forward's former club may offer him a summer return to Goodison Park, Mourinho said he wants the 31-year-old to stay, adding it could not be guaranteed because he will not keep unhappy players.


MPs are to hold an emergency three-hour debate on the crisis facing the UK's steel industry.

It was called for by Labour's shadow business secretary Angela Eagle, who complained the government had refused to recall Parliament from its Easter break to discuss the issue.
Tata Steel has begun the formal process of selling its loss-making UK plants, putting thousands of jobs.
However, a buyer has been found for its Scunthorpe plant.
The future of the larger Port Talbot is still in doubt, although at least one potential buyer has expressed an interest.
The government has resisted calls from unions and opposition politicians to nationalise the Port Talbot plant, Britain's biggest steelworks.
The steel industry says it has been hit by a combination of factors - high UK energy prices, the extra cost of climate change policies and cheap imports from China.
On Monday, Business Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons the government was working very hard to find a buyer for Port Talbot.
Among options being considered was "the possibility of co-investing with a buyer on commercial terms", he said.
Tony Burke, assistant general secretary of Unite, said the union would be holding Mr Javid to his commitment to co-invest if necessary.
"The penny appears to have dropped that there should be an active government supporting steel and manufacturing as the best best hope of securing the future of the industry," he said.
'Substantial support' needed for steel
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Tata Steel UK: What are the options?
Is China to blame for steel woes?
Tata's Long Products Europe business, which includes the Scunthorpe plant, was sold to investment firm Greybull Capital for a token Â£1 or â‚¬1. The move will safeguard 4,400 UK jobs, but workers are being asked to accept a pay cut and less generous pension arrangements.
The business will be rebranded as British Steel once the deal is completed in eight weeks, the company said.
Ms Eagle used a Parliamentary procedure - Standing Order 24 - to ask for an urgent debate.
Commons Speaker John Bercow accepted the application and because Ms Eagle had the support of enough MPs, including some Conservatives, Tuesday's Parliamentary business has been changed to accommodate the debate.


Former US talk show host Craig Ferguson is to return to Scottish TV for the first time in 25 years with an appearance on Still Game.

The Glasgow-born comedian presented the Late Late Show for more than a decade, becoming one of the highest paid hosts in America.
Ferguson said he had been sent a Still Game script by the show's creators Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.
He called it "hilarious" and said he was delighted to be part of the show.
The 55-year-old, who continues to present US game shows, told the Sunday Times Scotland: "My ambitions are more about doing stuff that's fun so my first television work in Scotland in 25 years is later this year and it's because Ford and Greg sent me a script for Still Game, and I'm going to do an episode because it's just hilarious."
He added: "I loved Chewin' The Fat and I love Still Game, so I'm delighted to be part of that."
Before moving to the US, Ferguson appeared in British TV shows such as One Foot In The Grave in the 1990s.
He also acted in a number of US programmes before winning the host role on the Late Late Show.
He stepped down at the end of 2014, with James Corden taking over the role.
Still Game is returning to the BBC later this year, with filming under way at its Dumbarton studio and locations around Glasgow.


A former Manchester United footballer from west Belfast has been ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church.

Philip Mulryne won 27 caps for Northern Ireland in a career that included spells with Norwich City and Leyton Orient.
The former midfielder was ordained by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, on Saturday.
The 38-year-old is a member of the Dominican Order and is expected to be ordained as a priest next year.
Family and friends were in attendance at Saturday's event in Dublin's Saint Saviour's church.
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Mulryne made his debut for Manchester United in 1997 after progressing through the youth team.
He was unable to forge a lengthy career with the so-called Red Devils and moved to Norwich City in 1999, but his time at Carrow Road was plagued by injuries.


Celtic cruised to a 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden Park as Brendan Rodgers secured his first trophy as the Scottish Premiership leaders' manager.

Former Celtic and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Pat Bonner assesses the victors' performance in Sunday's Scottish League Cup final, while former Aberdeen and Scotland defender Willie Miller gives his marks out of 10 for Derek McInnes' side.
Didn't do too much wrong, couldn't do anything about the goals. Not over-worked, but Celtic had a number of other chances. Not the worst.
In second-half, he came more to life in terms of getting forward, which is a big part of his game.
In team for his height and domination but didn't dominate his opponent or take responsibility for closing gap between defence and midfield. Use of the ball was poor.
Probably his poorest performance for Aberdeen - uncertain, played too deep. He didn't close down James Forrest quickly enough for the second goal and conceded the penalty for the third. Must be disappointed, because he's looked good since coming to the club
Wasn't exposed on too many occasions against Patrick Roberts. Did have the chance with a header and maybe should have done better with it. Moved to centre-back later, his preferred his position. Didn't play to the standard he's capable of.
Not the worst in midfield. Tried hard but played in an area that was dominated by Celtic. Only got close to Celtic's midfielders on a couple of occasions and should have made it more difficult for them.
An opportunity as captain to lift the trophy. He normally gives you an element of control in midfield but didn't do that. The gap between him and his defence was too wide, allowing Roberts, Rogic and Forrest to get in behind.
Largely anonymous in the first-half. Spent his time worrying about defensive duties rather than what he's good at. Turned it around in second half and had a number of good runs, but he's a match winner and he didn't show what he was capable of.
Celtic dominated in midfield and McLean must take responsibility. He's been at the club long enough to know what's expected, should be performing to a high level and on the big stage. If you want to be an international, you have to perform better.
Whenever he got on the ball, you felt, if anything was going to happen creatively, it was going to come through him. He was taken out the game on two or three occasions and Celtic players realised he was the main threat.
Not the Adam Rooney I know. Didn't do much in terms of causing a threat to the two centre-backs, who handled him extremely well. He needed to work harder to make it difficult for them but had little support. Should be a goal threat but didn't do that.
Won a couple of headers, but his timing was out at times after coming on for O'Connor.
Expect more from a player like him. With Hayes, who he replaced, he's the quality in terms of creativity and didn't create anything.
Barely touched the ball after taking over from Rooney. Hard when coming on at 3-0 down.
Had that save from Andrew Considine's first-half header but didn't have much else to do. To force his way back into the side and win a medal, you have to give him great credit.
Fairly comfortable at right-back, as steady as always, and was in control defensively.
Was probably the pick of the back four. Stepping out, he made the opening goal. Passed the ball well throughout.
Strong, powerful figure at the back. Was never put under significant pressure.
Attacked the by-line as always and delivered an early cross for Moussa Dembele to head on target.
Man of the match, dominated proceedings, looked in control and showed flair at times. Won a tackle with O'Connor that probably put paid to the defender for the next five or 10 minutes. Led by example.
Solid display, worked very hard, not over-spectacular and should have scored at the end after getting himself into a great position.
Always capable of doing something in the game. An attacking threat throughout. He plays the position well and scored the opening goal.
Scored Celtic's second goal, laid on a couple, won the penalty for the third. I asked the question before, could he step up? And I think he did.
Probably Celtic's quietest player. Wasn't involved as much as he would have wanted to be.
Probably the quietest we've seen him but still scored his goal. Not as sharp as he normally is but led the line well.
Did what he had do after coming on for Roberts. Kept it nice and solid in midfield.
Another who did his job well and kept the performance ticking over after coming on for Rogic.
Didn't have much time to impress as a late sub for Forrest but didn't do anything wrong.
Pat Bonner and Willie Miller were talking to BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson.


Police dealing with an "unprecedented" number of migrants say hundreds of arrests were made at or near a single M1 lorry stop.

More than 400 immigration arrests have been made across Bedfordshire's road network and services since 2010.
More than 80% were made at or near the Toddington Services on the M1 north of Luton, the force says.
Police say the service area is often the first place lorry drivers stop for a break after coming in through Dover.
The total number of immigration offence arrests across Bedfordshire shot up 83% - from 213 to 389 - during the first eight months of 2015, compared with the same period last year.
It is the largest rise of any of the counties in the east of England which, as a whole, has seen a 31% rise in arrests over the most recent reporting periods.
By law, drivers must take a break of at least 45 minutes after driving for up to four-and-a-half hours in one stretch (often referred to as a "tacho-break" because of the tachograph drivers use to record their journey information).
"The lorry drivers are using Toddington services for a 'tacho-break'," said Ch Insp Nick Lyall, "and obviously then discovering either the illegal immigrants inside or the immigrants are using that as an opportunity (to disembark)."
Toddington, he said, was often the first opportunity for stowaways to get off the vehicle they used to enter the UK, and many of whom would then claim asylum.
More than 80% of all arrests on Bedfordshire's road network over the past five years were at Toddington service area, or the junctions immediately north or south of it.
George Mossie has been living next door to Toddington for the past two years. The property is just 20 yards from the services, separated by a wooden fence.
He is renovating the house with colleagues and they have installed 14 CCTV cameras after he saw stowaways emerging from lorries parked nearby.
"If you're in that house yourself, if everyone is away at work, you lock all the doors. You hear some strange noises and the first thing that comes into your mind is 'is it immigrants'?
"We've got camera systems throughout the house now. 24/7 Surveillance.
"You feel safe during the day. It's the night time I'm a bit wary.
"A month ago the immigrants came out of the lorries and took the road to the farm. We had the police down here - we've plenty of outbuildings.
"We did a manhunt to check it all out but it was all good.
"People coming in to a strange country, they may not have eaten for four days, maybe a week, no money, desperate for food, water - who knows?"
Ch Insp Lyall said the situation was now putting a strain on police resources, with the custody system under particular pressure.
"Over the last couple of months we have seen unprecedented levels of illegal immigrants being detained by officers," he said, "levels we've not seen before and levels that are really beginning to stretch us operationally."
The biggest nationality groups arrested by Bedfordshire Police on the county's roads for immigration offences over the past five years have been Eritreans, followed by Iranians.
However Syrians have been the largest group so far during 2015.
Of all the immigration arrests made by the force since 2010, 84% were male and nearly a quarter were under 20.
Moto, which runs the Toddington services, declined to comment.


London 2012 athletes Dai Greene and Samantha Bowen have taken part in this year's Nos Galan road race in south Wales.

Over 1,300 signed up for adults and children's races around Mountain Ash, the most in its 46-year history.
The run honours legendary runner Guto Nyth Bran, whose statue is in the town.
Welshman Greene, 26, finished fourth in 400m hurdles at the Olympics. Bowen, also 26, from Mountain Ash, represented Paralympic GB in sitting volleyball.
It is tradition for the "mystery runners" to lay a wreath at the statue of 18th Century runner who inspired the race and to light a beacon to signal the start of the adult and elite athletes' races.
Last year's mystery runners were football and rugby legends John Hartson and Mark Taylor with previous guests including Linford Christie, Nicole Cooke and James Hook among others.
The races, including the main 5km fun run, attracts entrants from around the world with two travelling from Washington DC and San Diego in the US to compete this year.
Organisers said the highlight of the race was the arrival of Greene, Team GB athletics captain at the Olympic Games, and local Paralympian Bowen.
He finished fourth in the 400m hurdles final and fourth in the 4x400m relay, just 0.13 seconds off a medal place
Bowen was brought up in Mountain Ash before joining the Army.
She was paralysed after a bomb attack and spent several years in recovery before enrolling in the Disability Sport Wales volleyball programme and being spotted by coaches.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ann Crimmings called it the "biggest street party" the area had seen on New Year's Eve with crowds turning out to watch the races and fireworks display.


The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is very wary of any financial contribution to a third Greek bailout.

The implication of remarks by an IMF official is that it is very unlikely to provide funds at the first stage.
The fund could, however, join in later, provided both the eurozone and Athens take steps to address IMF concerns.
The problem for the IMF is that its staff believe the elements so far agreed are not enough to make the Greek government's debt sustainable.
Negotiations are under way and the IMF is involved. But its staff think the eurozone governments need to give Greece debt relief.
That does not have to be in the form of explicit reductions in the outstanding debt. It could mean longer repayment terms and delays before any payments are required - so-called grace periods.
The eurozone has insisted that it is only prepared to look at the possibility after Greece has made a start on implementing whatever conditions will be agreed.
The IMF official also said Greece needs to commit itself to further reforms if it is to make the debt situation sustainable.
He didn't spell out what they were. But they will involve reforms to the government finances to control spending and maintain tax revenue. They will also cover what are called structural reforms, to remove barriers to economic growth. Faster growth would generate more tax revenue to help make the debt situation sustainable.
Neither Greece nor the eurozone are ready to take those steps, the official suggested.
The implication then is that Greece and the eurozone will find it very hard to persuade the IMF to stump up any cash at the start, though it might be willing to do so if there is debt relief and further reform later.
The immediate significance of the IMF's position is political.
If the bailout talks do produce an agreement to provide financial assistance from the eurozone bailout agency, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), it will still need approval by some parliaments, including Germany's Bundestag.
Many members, including some from Chancellor Angela Merkel's own party, are very unhappy about a third bailout for Greece. There is a much better chance of persuading them to acquiesce if the IMF is on board.
Financially, the IMF is less critical. It is the eurozone that has provided the great bulk of the resources for the first two bailouts and would do so with the third.
It could afford to find the full expected €86bn (£60bn) if really necessary. The ESM has the capacity to make €455bn of new loans  at present.
The political roadblock erected by the IMF is more difficult.


A 15-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot while riding a motorcycle.

The shooting happened on Hewitt Avenue in Sunderland at 20:40 BST on Wednesday.
A 39-year-old man and a 16-year-old male have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
Northumbria Police said it believed it was an isolated incident, with no risk to the wider public.


An Army major who was involved in a crash which killed another man was "way over the speed limit" and on "the wrong side of the road", a court has heard.

Maj Richard Scott, 40, is accused of driving at speeds of up to 95mph (153km/h) in bad weather before the smash on a B-road in Wiltshire.
Gareth Hicks, 24, suffered fatal injuries when the van he was asleep in was hit by Mr Scott's Audi A6.
Maj Scott denies a charge of causing death by careless driving.
Prosecutor Charles Gabb alleged the defendant, from Green Lane in Shepperton, Surrey, had crossed the carriageway of the 60mph-limit B390 in Shrewton near Amesbury.
The weather was "awful" and there was strong wind and rain, he told jurors.
He said Mr Scott's car was described as "twitching" and "may have been aquaplaning" before striking the first vehicle; a BMW driven by Craig Reed.
Mr Scott's Audi then returned to his side of the road but crossed the carriageway again before colliding head-on with a Ford Transit van in which Mr Hicks was a passenger, the court was told.
"There is no doubt that when the Audi smashed into the panel van he was on completely the wrong side of the road," Mr Gabb said.
Mr Hicks, from Bath in Somerset, was asleep in the van being driven to a construction site in Salisbury by fellow DR Groundworks colleague, Patrick Gilleece.
The jury was told the Maj Scott suffered "substantial injuries" and could not recall the crash, which happened shortly after 07:00 GMT on 6 October, 2014.
He does not accept the charge and suggests it was in fact Mr Reed who had crossed the carriageway, causing the collision, Mr Gabb told the court.
The trial continues.


I have been collecting matchboxes seriously since 2012.

My sources include collectors all over the world, dealers, auctions, flea markets, and just about any place I can think of. The accumulation, as I like to call it, includes all kinds of material related to the Indian matchbox industry.
Within this rapidly growing accumulation, I often come across labels and subjects that I get curious about and that is how my collection takes a thematic approach.
My recent exhibition, titled "Matchbox Labels And The Stories They Tell", features some prominent trends and themes spanning the entire history of the matchbox industry.
I exhibited 5,000 labels from my collection of 25,000.
AE Matcheswala was an early matchbox label which started using sulphur. It set up its factories in Mumbai in western Maharashtra and Khambhat (also known as Cambay) in Gujarat state, and continued to trade in matchboxes until after World War Two.
The company exported its matchboxes to Arab countries. Ambarnath, written in Hindi on this label, was the location of the first Wimco factory in western Maharashtra state. Very few Wimco labels used Indian languages and they did not last long. This rather drab label featuring the dhow is not one of their common brands.
This label promoted the Swadeshi (self-reliance) movement during the partition of India's Bengal region in 1905. A number of Indian labels started during the independence struggle after calls were made to boycott British goods. Most firms used Indian languages to add nationalist fervour to their brands. Labels from the 1920s and 30s tell the story of India's struggle for freedom. Some labels even celebrated important personalities associated with the freedom movement.
It's believed that this matchbox was commissioned by the royal family of Bhavnagar in western Gujarat state for their personal use during British rule. Little is known about such matchboxes because records were not kept at the time and little research is possible today.
Many Bollywood films were promoted on matchboxes in the 1950s. Some labels even featured Pakistani films. Actors and film posters continue to be featured on matchboxes today.


Fianna Fáil TDs are meeting to consider an offer of "full partnership government" from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin met for more than an hour on Wednesday night.
It was the first time discussions between their respective parties took place on cooperation in government.
However, a senior member of Fianna Fáil says he believes the coalition offer will be rejected by the party.
Willie O'Dea told RTÉ that people voted to "get rid of Enda Kenny as taoiseach" and not for Fianna Fáil to share "Mercs and perks" with Fine Gael.
Earlier, Fine Gael's Simon Coveney told RTÉ his party's offer of sharing power with Fianna Fáil is a "genuine, real offer".
He added that it was in the "best interests of the country for the two large parties to come together".
Irish politicians have been attempting to form a working government since the general election in February.
Following the February election to the Dáil, Fine Gael has 50 seats, Fianna Fáil 44, Sinn Féin 23 and the Labour Party got seven.


Two shots have been fired at a house in west Belfast.

The shooting took place at a home in the Falcarragh Drive area at about 22:15 BST on Thursday.
The shots passed through the front door and embedded in the stairs. Four adults aged between 18 and 50 were in the house at the time, including a mother and her son. No one was injured.
Police say a motive has not yet been established and have appealed for information.


The firm which recently re-launched classic home micro-computer the ZX Spectrum has announced a portable version of the device.

Sir Clive Sinclair, who created the original Spectrum, owns a stake in Retro Computers - the firm behind the refreshed versions of his device.
The Indiegogo project for the handheld Vega+ has already raised £44,780 ($31,000) of its £100,000 funding goal.
The Vega+ will come with 1,000 games if successfully funded.
On the Indiegogo product page for the project, Retro Computers explains that the device will feature an LCD screen but may also be connected to a TV.
The company adds that development of the product is complete and that a "fully working prototype" is ready to go into production - with units shipping as early as this summer.
"They obviously believe that there is room for retro gaming but at the same time people don't like necessarily sitting in front of TVs all the time to play games," said Stuart Miles, editor of gadget site Pocket-lint.
"By making it portable, it broadens it out to the same audience that would have played Gameboys years ago."
Mr Miles added, though, that sometimes nostalgia for classic games was not always satisfied when they are played again.
"Sometimes you're reminded how basic these games were," he told the BBC.


A relative of the prominent US Kennedy family has been granted a new trial in the 1975 beating death of a girl.

Michael Skakel, whose aunt Ethel was the widow of Robert Kennedy, was found guilty in 2002 of killing his teenage neighbour with a golf club.
On Wednesday a judge in the US state of Connecticut found Mr Skakel's lawyer had failed to represent him adequately.
Mr Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence.
"We're very, very thrilled,'' Mr Skakel's lawyer Hubert Santos told reporters.
Mr Santos said he planned to seek Mr Skakel's release on Thursday, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Prosecutor John Smriga told the Associated Press he planned to appeal against the decision overturning the conviction.
Mr Skakel, 52, appealed against his 2002 conviction on the grounds that his trial attorney was negligent in defending him in the death of 15-year-old Martha Moxley.
But prosecutor Susann Gill has said the state has compelling evidence of motive as well as three confessions and other incriminating statements made by Mr Skakel.
"His drug-addled mental state, coupled with the infuriating knowledge that his hated brother Tommy had a sexual liaison with Martha, and the fact that Martha spurned his advances, triggered the rage which led him to beat her to death with a golf club,'' Ms Gill wrote.
The battered body of Moxley, who lived near the Skakel family in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, was found on the lawn of her parents' house.
She had been bludgeoned with a golf club - later traced to a set owned by Mr Skakel's mother - and stabbed in the neck with the shaft of the club.
There were no witnesses or forensic evidence, but several people later testified that they had heard Mr Skakel confess to the crime.
One witness previously quoted him as saying: "I'm going to get away with murder, because I'm a Kennedy."
The Kennedys were one of the most prominent families in 20th Century US politics.
Joseph Kennedy was US ambassador to Britain under President Franklin Roosevelt. His son John Kennedy was president 1961-63, and his other sons Robert and Edward were senators.


The bird-themed cover of Rattle That Lock, the fourth solo album from Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, has won a prize for the year's best album artwork.

The artwork was selected from 50 entrants in the annual awards.
Alt-rock band Drenge's second album Undertow came second, while Currents, the third studio album from Australian group Tame Impala, came third.
Now in its 10th year, the prize is organised by Art Vinyl, a company that promotes record covers as art.
The winner - art directed by Dave Stansbie from The Creative Corporation - was decided by public vote from nominees that also included Blur's The Magic Whip and Bjork's Vulnicura.
Previous winners of the prize include Klaxons' Surfing the Void - which depicted a cat in a spacesuit - and last year's recipient, Royal Blood's self-titled debut album.
This year's winners will be showcased in exhibitions in Ayrshire, Bologna, Budapest and Munich, as well as at two locations in London.


A French court has ruled that wire-tapped conversations between ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy and his lawyer can be used as evidence in an ongoing corruption investigation.

The decision is seen as a blow for the centre-right leader, who is likely to bid again for the presidency in 2017.
Mr Sarkozy is suspected of promising a sought-after position to a judge in return for information on another case.
But he was already being bugged as part of the earlier investigation.
That case against Mr Sarkozy, the UMP leader, was eventually dropped.
But it involved accusations that elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt had been financially exploited during the 2007 presidential campaign, with reports of brown envelopes being handed over stuffed with large amounts of cash.
He was placed under formal investigation on suspicion of influence-peddling last July, after hours of questioning - reportedly the first time a former French head of state had been held in police custody.
30 Jan 2014: Lawyer Thierry Herzog (talking about magistrate Gilbert Azibert): "He's had access to the rapporteur's opinion, that will never be published... This opinion concludes with the removal of all references to your diaries... That's really some job, you know!"
5 Feb 2014: Thierry Herzog: "He told me, 'You can tell the president I'm optimistic'.  I told him that you would receive him afterwards.
Nicolas Sarkozy responds: "I'll promote him!" and later, "I'll help him".
The wire-taps revealed that Mr Sarkozy, using a prepaid mobile phone registered under the alias of Paul Bismuth, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to a magistrate in exchange for information about the Bettencourt inquiry.
The magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, was never given the job and Mr Sarkozy denied wrongdoing.
But the conversations Mr Sarkozy had with his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, have now been allowed as evidence by the Paris Appeals Court.
Mr Sarkozy argues that the call was subject to lawyer-client privilege.
Lawyers for him and Mr Herzog said they would appeal against the ruling to France's top court, the Cour de Cassation.


In our hyper-connected world, in which dinners are interrupted by smartphones, and where 75% of us (one study says) check our messages while on the loo, you can see why it's hard for manufacturers to find a gap in the market.

That's why many companies are steering their attention away from our waking hours and instead focusing on the mostly untouched world of sleep.
Several apps and fitness trackers already keep tabs on how we move around in bed, but one noticeable trend at this year's CES in Las Vegas was just how many innovations promised to help you get a good night's kip - or at least find out why you're feeling tired.
One such company, Sleep Number, takes it very seriously.
Its $8,000 (Â£4,800) "superbed" - launched at the show - is loaded with monitoring technology, all of which reports back to a tablet app that can be reviewed in daylight hours.
Firstly, it monitors the entire body's movements - an advantage over basic fitness trackers that are limited to movements of the wrist, or to wherever the device is attached.
Secondly, it can work out who's who on the bed, so if one person has had a sleepless night, the app will work out if it was the fault of the fidgety person next to them.
If necessary, it can alter the firmness of the bed on just one side, helping one person be more comfortable without disturbing the other.
And another feature, likely to delight long-suffering partners the world over, is the bed's claimed ability to help stop snoring.
By gently moving the snorer up and down the bed opens their airways without interrupting their slumber.
It's a 2014 upgrade, you could say, to a friendly shove or holding of the nose.
"Too much lately we don't get enough sleep," says Pete Bils from Sleep Number.
"That places a premium on the quality of sleep that we get."
That's a point of view shared by many here who think the way to feel better rested in the modern age is not to just get to bed earlier, as your mother would tell you, but to sleep smarter, making the most of the time you have between the sheets.
For instance, one conference attendee - who didn't want to be named for fear of being told off - said his girlfriend regularly had trouble sleeping.
By Leo KelionTechnology reporter
Studies suggest humans and other creatures follow what is known as a circadian rhythm - a 24-hour biological cycle involving cell regeneration, urine production and other functions critical to health.
Research indicates that it is regulated by a group of cells in a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus which respond to light information sent by the eye's optic nerve, which in turn controls hormones, body temperature and other functions that influence whether people feel sleepy or wide awake.
When the eye sees blue light it stimulates melanopsin - a pigment found in cells in the eye's retina which send nerve impulses to parts of the brain thought to make a person feel alert.
Blue light is also believed to suppress melatonin - a hormone made by the brain's pineal gland which makes a person feel sleepy when its levels rise in their blood.
By switching from blue to red light - via an intermediary white or yellow stage - this process should be reversed, encouraging a feeling of sleepiness.
Whether or not the latest consumer electronics that attempt to piggyback on this research actually make much difference to their owners' sleep is still open to question.
The problem, they later found thanks to a sleep tracking device, was that she was going to bed too early and becoming unnecessarily restless during the night.
The point is, argue the backers of this technology, we historically haven't paid much attention to how we sleep, beyond what time we get in, and what time we get up.
"You spend about a third of your life in bed," says Alain Amador, from Withings. The French company is showing off its own sleep monitor technology, the Aura, this week.
"As of now we've only done tracking, but nothing to help you go to sleep and wake up."
Withings' product centres on a special, and very colourful, lamp.
If you want to go to sleep, it plays some relaxing noises and emits a soft, red light into the room.
The colour is, Withings says, scientifically proven to stimulate the release of melatonin, a hormone which brings on a feeling of sleepiness.
In the morning, a blue light has the opposite effect - suppressing melatonin and encouraging us to wake up and be more alert.
A sensor pad placed under the mattress means the Aura is also taking note of when you're moving around the most, so that it can wake you up when you're not in deep sleep.
That means, in theory, you get out of bed in less of a jarred, grumpy mood.
There's about a dozen technologies at CES that deal specifically with issues around sleep, giving the whole affair the whiff of a bandwagon or fad.
SleepPhones offers a music-playing headband, described as "pyjamas for your ears", while Lighting Science's Good Night light bulb apparently filters out the light waves that "get in melatonin's way".
But Gartner analyst Brian Blau says the products should perhaps be given more credit for solving a long-neglected problem suffered by many.
"In the medical field, to diagnose your sleep problems you need to go to a special facility and be there for multiple nights," he says.
"So, maybe these consumer sleep products can help people with issues they have."
What next? If technology means we're out-for-the-count quicker and better than ever before, what else can gadgetry bring?
Remee - not on show at CES - leads the pack with its sleep mask that it says increases the frequency of lucid dreams - dreams where you're aware you are dreaming.
Six tiny LEDs shine into the wearer's eyes, not enough to wake them up, but to increase alertness ever so slightly, enough to trigger lucidity.
It could pave the way for controlling our dreams, and the things we see in them.
Whatever the technology, though, it can't stop one grim inevitability: you have to drag yourself out of bed eventually.
Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC.


A Welsh company has joined forces with Cardiff University to set up the UK's first centre of excellence for compound semiconductors.

IQE will develop new technology for smart phones, tablets, healthcare and biotechnology.
The partnership has the potential to create thousands of jobs in Wales, the company said.
Vice-chancellor Prof Colin Riordan said the centre would put the university "ahead of our competitors".
The UK government announced in March it was backing a new semiconductor research foundation at the university with a £17m investment, on top of £12m from the Welsh government.
Last autumn, the university also announced it was ploughing £300m into new research and innovation facilities in the city.


Chesterfield have signed Birmingham City striker Lee Novak on a season-long loan deal.

The 26-year-old has scored nine goals in 59 league appearances for the Blues after joining from Huddersfield Town in May 2013.
He could make his Spireites debut at Sheffield United on Saturday.
"When I spoke to the gaffer yesterday, he wanted me in straight away and I couldn't wait to come in," Novak told the Chesterfield website.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Limiting EU migrant workers' rights to benefits will do little to cut inward migration, a member of the Office for Budget Responsibility has said.

Asked what impact a proposed four-year ban on in-work benefits would have, Sir Stephen Nickell told MPs "not much".
Bu the economist said the watchdog had not done any analysis to back this up.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith disagreed with this "one opinion" on what is a key goal for the UK's renegotiation of EU membership.
Mr Cameron wants the EU's other 27 members to agree to allow the UK to deny migrants in-work benefits for four years after arriving in the country - a move which he says would cut the flow of foreign job-seekers.
EU officials have said this will be "very tough" to negotiate amid warnings that it could be discriminatory and potentially unlawful.
Appearing before the Commons Treasury Select Committee, Sir Stephen - a member of the OBR's Budgetary Responsibility Committee - was asked about its likely impact on migration from EU countries.
The OBR, he said, had not done any detailed analysis of this as it was not yet government policy so fell outside the watchdog's remit.
But asked for his personal opinion, he replied: "Changing the benefit rules for EU migration so that they become more difficult to obtain - you are asking me what impact that is likely to have. In my opinion: not much."
Analysis by the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale
Iain Duncan Smith is resisting attempts by some in Downing Street to water down plans to curb benefits for EU migrants as part of the UK's EU reform demands.
Options being considered are understood to include imposing the benefit curbs on Britons too, so they are non-discriminatory, or reducing the proposed amount of time migrants would have to work in the UK before they could claim benefits.
But the work and pensions secretary has made clear his belief that the prime minister should stick to the plan to curb benefits for four years, emphasising repeatedly that this is a Conservative manifesto commitment.
He also said that the UK had the private support of several EU countries in this matter.
Read James' full blog
Asked if he could expand on this view, he said: "I have no idea because I have not investigated it. I am prepared to say that any changes to benefit rules are unlikely to have a huge impact on migration flows."
Sir Stephen, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, added that there was quite a lot of evidence that differences in job opportunities and pay were "a significant factor in migration flows" around the world.
Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie, who heads the committee, said he would be writing to Sir Stephen to ask him to "substantiate" his remarks and to appraise any conclusions which could be drawn on the subject.
And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said he disagreed with the economist, saying "that is just an opinion of the individual concerned".
He said he believed bearing down on in-work benefits would make a "huge difference" to the numbers coming to the UK
"If you deal with the issue of migrancy through welfare, as part of that process, that is critical to any relationship," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One.
"Taking out part of the pull factor of people coming over, who can declare themselves to be on zero earnings and getting tax credits and maybe doing cash-in-hand elsewhere, these are all problems the country faces and we need to deal with.
"What the public don't want to be doing is to pay tax to support people who decide this is a better country to be in to claim particular benefits."


A trade union has expressed anger after learning military personnel could step in to carry out the duties of civilian staff taking part in industrial action at two naval bases in Scotland.

Unite members have been taking action at Faslane and Coulport since March in a dispute with employer Babcock Marine.
Unite said it had learned of the MoD plans on Wednesday.
The MoD said it was not involved in the dispute but Royal Navy staff would step in "where there is a safety issue".
The Faslane base on the Clyde is home to the UK's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines.
Unite members voted to take industrial action after the union accused Babcock of a "systematic campaign to undermine workers" in order to push through further outsourcing at the bases.
Babcock has said it "absolutely" refutes the allegations.
Talks intended to resolve the dispute were held recently at the conciliation service Acas but broke down after two days.
The union represents a range of workers at Faslane and Coulport, including cleaners, housekeepers, logistics operatives, drivers and mail staff.
It also has members in radiation monitoring and strategic weapons support roles.
Unite regional officer Stephen Dean said: "It is outrageous for the Ministry of Defence to get involved in a trade dispute in this way, and a clear attack on the democratic rights of our members.
"The MoD is misusing the nation's defence staff - ordering them in to help an employer who is attacking workers' rights."
An MoD spokesman added: "This is an issue between Babcock and their employees. Royal Navy personnel are not taking over any civilian posts but where there is a safety issue they will step in."
In a statement, Babcock said: "We support the Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy with the delivery of safe and secure operations daily at HMNB (Her Majesty's Naval Base) Clyde.
"The current dispute with Unite does not change that focus.
"We have written to Unite at a national level to reiterate our fully considered offer which addresses all of the concerns raised at the initial ACAS meeting and are continuing to work hard to find a resolution to this dispute."


"Red, white and blue Brexit."
"Operate within and trade with the single market."
"A bespoke deal."
"This won't be off-the-shelf."
The list goes on and on and on.
I, for one, will not be sad to see the back of some of the stock phrases Theresa May and her ministers have been using to describe life outside the European Union.
Number 10 decided long ago the prime minister would give as little away as possible before the official process began. It didn't make sense to give the game away to the other countries the UK will be facing across the negotiating table.
It has also, to use a diplomatic phrase, taken some time for the government to come to an agreement on what its plan would look like. There have been briefing papers aplenty, endless cabinet committee discussions, consultations with more than 50 different sectors of the business world before tomorrow's speech.
The less diplomatic way of looking at it is that, as some ministers have privately admitted, there hasn't been a plan. And the spectrum of opinion in the government has been extremely wide, from ministers I've spoken to who believed that we could stay in the single market, to those who have been pushing hard for months for a rapid, wholesale departure.
Essentially, ministers have taken more than six months to work out what they really want to do. And part of the problem has been that they don't all agree.
Now, as one of those on the Eurosceptic side of the argument describes it, the prime minister is about to make her speech and "people like me will not be upset with it".
But it is not the case that Mrs May has suddenly clicked her fingers and made up her mind about everything.
Indeed, while she has been accused of dithering and delaying, lacking vision and the ability to make swift decisions, those who defend the prime minister suggest that something else has been going on - it's not just that she has been taking a long time doing her homework.
Arguably, she has followed a decades-old political technique of "constructive ambiguity".
The phrase, coined by Henry Kissinger, the controversial architect of modern US diplomacy, had something rather different in mind when he developed its use. "Constructive ambiguity" is based on the belief that warring parties can all sign up to woolly-sounding statements without losing out, so that a diplomatic process can continue.
Whether in the Middle East or in Northern Ireland, the principle is that it's best to keep people at the table, and keep them talking, even if what seems to be actually being agreed could be written on the back of a fag packet and interpreted in different ways.
By being vague on detail, Mrs May has allowed others to have the public arguments about what leaving the European Union should look like. She has deferred or defused big fights with her party, the public and the press by saying, again and again, she is ruling nothing in and ruling nothing out.
It's hard for political opponents to criticise her decisions if she can keep saying that none have been reached.
While this ambiguity has reigned, behind closed doors ministers have been trying to work out what is legally and politically possible, and what is actually desirable. Tomorrow we will hear some of the fruits of their labour, although not surprisingly, not every issue is resolved.
But alongside the Brexit-related platitudes, whatever cross Remainers say, two big fundamental decisions were in fact made months ago, that Mrs May has not hidden.
First, even in the speech before she became the Tory leader in July, she was abundantly clear that free movement of people - the existing EU system of immigration that does not put limits on the number of EU citizens who can come here - could not last.
And time and again, in almost every speech she has given, and on many of the appearances that she has made at the Despatch Box, she has made it plain that, for her, controlling immigration is the priority, even it comes ahead of the economy.
Second, again on the conference platform, in speeches and in the Commons, the prime minister has said the UK will no longer be subject to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Those statements aren't just important in their own right, but crucial because, by implication, they mean that we will not seek to preserve our existing membership of the single market.
EU countries have made it plain the UK can't have existing trade arrangements without accepting free movement of people.
The ECJ is the referee of the single market too. So if, explicitly, the UK doesn't accept the authority of the referee, it cannot stay in the game.
With the cloak of constructive ambiguity, refusing to spell that out, the prime minister has been able to dismiss fears about that reality as speculation, as no final decisions have been made.
But as she prepares for one of the most important speeches of her life, she'll be all too aware, that protection can't last for good.


Luis Suarez says his Barcelona team-mates were surprised by the news that coach Luis Enrique is leaving at the end of the season.

Enrique, 46, revealed his decision after Wednesday's 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon, stating that he needed a rest.
"We didn't expect it, but it is understandable and one that we accept," said the 30-year-old striker.
"The job is very difficult and requires hours of hard work. He has to enjoy being with his family as well."
Enrique, who replaced Gerardo Martino in 2014, will leave at the end of his contract this summer.
The coach said on Wednesday: "It's about how I live with my profession, with a never-ending quest for solutions and to improve my team. That means I have very little time to rest, very few hours to disconnect.
"I think it will be good for me at the end of the season, because I need to rest. That's the principle motive."
The former Barcelona midfielder has helped the Catalan giants win the Champions League, two league titles and two Copas del Rey during his three years.
Barcelona lead La Liga by a point from Real Madrid, albeit having played a game more, and they are in May's Copa del Rey final against Alaves.
Their hopes of progressing from the last-16 of the Champions League are slim however, needing to overturn a 4-0 deficit against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.


Kilmarnock have signed former Hibernian midfielder Paul Cairney on a two year contract.

The 26-year-old was released by the Easter Road side at the end of last season.
Cairney started his career at Queen's Park and moved to Partick Thistle in 2008, scoring 20 goals during a four year spell at Firhill.
He switched to Hibs in 2012 under then manager Pat Fenlon and made 53 appearances in two years.
Meanwhile, full back Sean Clohessy has left Killie after the final year of his deal was cancelled by mutual consent.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who moved to Rugby Park from Southend last summer, played 26 times for Allan Johnston's side last season, scoring two goals.


Accrington Stanley upset fellow League Two promotion chasers Oxford with a late strike at the Kassam Stadium.

Stanley played the last seven minutes with 10 men after centre-back Tom Davies received a second booking.
Scott Brown's low drive proved the winner with three minutes left.
Kemar Roofe had earlier given the hosts a first-half lead with his 20th goal of the season but Billy Kee equalised just after the interval as he beat Benji Buchel at his left post.
Fourth-placed Accrington closed the gap on Oxford in third to three points with the win and have two games in hand on the U's.


Millwall Football Club said it "will fight like Lions" after Lewisham Council voted to sell land surrounding its stadium to property developers.

The New Bermondsey development will see the creation of 2,400 homes, community facilities and a new overground station around The Den.
Chairman John Berylson said the club had its own building plans and is "not going to give in".
Lewisham's cabinet voted 6-1 to approve the compulsory purchase order (CPO).
The cabinet was recommended to back the decision.
About 80 businesses, including Millwall, are based in the area where the scheme is planned.
The New Den stadium will not be altered but other land used by the club, including a car park and the Millwall Community Trust, would be taken over by developers.
The club had put forward its own proposals for the land, which it said would "protect the long-term future of this club".
Millwall's chairman said the decision was "akin to dropping two divisions" and accused Renewal of "point black refusing to work with us".
"This will now be a long process before our land can be taken. And it can still be stopped," Mr Berylson said.
Artist Willow Winston, who will lose her workshop under the current plans, said that while she welcomed the regeneration, the developers "wish to destroy everything here".
"You can't just wash out the history of an area and the people who live in the area", she said.
Jordana Malik, director at Renewal, called the vote "an important step forward" for New Bermondsey which will lead to the creation of 2,000 jobs.
She said the company would "strive to continue discussions with the remaining land owners," including Millwall.
"Renewal's vision from the outset was to incorporate a successful, self-sustaining football club at the heart of the proposed development," she said.


Canadian authorities have identified the teenage twin brothers who were killed over the weekend in a toboggan accident in Calgary.

Evan and Jordan Caldwell, 17, were killed and six other teens were injured after they rode toboggan down a bobsled track at Canada Olympic Park.
The teens had sneaked into the park after it had closed, police said.
As their toboggan sped down the track, the teens crashed into a gate that separated the luge and bobsled tracks.
The twins were pronounced dead at the scene and the others were treated at hospital.
"Our boys Jordan and Evan were bright lights to all who knew them. We are grieving their loss but confident in their new home of heaven. Our brief 17 years with them were a gift: filled with much love, laughter and fond memories," the Caldwell family said in a statement.
"They leave a huge void and will be sorely missed."
WinSport, the operators of the park, which hosted events during the 1988 Winter Olympics, told the CBC that the company was reviewing security camera footage to determine how the accident happened.
WinSport president and CEO Barry Heck called the park's security "robust" and refuted claims made on social media that teens frequently sneak into the park after hours.
"I've heard of incidents of people coming into the park," Mr Heck told the CBC. "I do not know of any incidents of anyone being on the sliding track."


A senior doctor has warned the Welsh GP system is at "breaking point" after a poll suggested 35% of GPs are considering retirement within five years.

A third of 748 GPs in Wales surveyed by the British Medical Association (BMA) said they were thinking of quitting within that period.
The Welsh government said it was "working hard" to attract GPs.
Dr Phil White, from BMA in Wales, said a Welsh GP shortage was "inevitable".
He told BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf programme: "We are facing a serious situation. We already have problems in areas such as Conwy and the Llyn Peninsula where you have one GP serving 5,000 patients".
The proportion of Welsh GPs polled who said they were considering retirement in the next five years was on par with the rest of the UK.
As part of the BMA survey of 15,000 doctors in the UK, 10% of Welsh GPs polled said their workload was manageable.
A Welsh government spokesman said: "In this UK-wide survey around half of those who responded were over 50, compared to 41% in Wales, so the results may overstate GPs' intentions to retire.
"There are now more than 2,000 GPs working in the Welsh NHS, an increase of 10.5% since 2004."


A round-up of the film and TV events that made headlines on the second day of Comic-Con 2017.

Jared Leto showed up - via hologram and in shocking pink trousers - to introduce the Blade Runner sequel session.
Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford and director Denis Villeneuve were in attendance to show off new footage and talk about making the movie.
Ford even addressed the long-held debate as to whether his character, Rick Deckard, is human or a replicant.
The cast of Justice League were next in Hall H to unveil a new four-minute trailer of the superhero film which sees Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg team up.
Aquaman's Jason Momoa was so excited by the clip, he ran around and smashed his chair.
The team also announced a sequel to Wonder Woman, a standalone Batgirl film and a new Green Lantern movie.
Meanwhile, Ben Affleck addressed those recent rumours he was quitting as the caped crusader.
Steven Spielberg also presented the first trailer for his ambitious next film, Ready Player One.
The futuristic sci-fi thriller is based on Ernest Cline's novel about a 1980s-obsessed teenager, who spends all his time logged into a virtual reality game.
Set in the 2040s, the trailer is packed full of special effects and '80s pop culture references - with cameo appearances from Batman, the Iron Giant, Freddy Krueger and even the DeLorean from Back to the Future.
Get ready to go back to the Upside Down.
The early anticipated trailer for the second series of Netflix's Stranger Things was screened and put online shortly after.
Accompanied to the tune of Michael Jackson's Thriller, we were given glimpses of a new terrifying monster, lots of '80s nostalgia and Eleven making a welcome return.
The highlight of the panel was Shannon Purser - who played Barb in the first series - ask from the audience if her character would be making an appearance in season two. Unfortunately the answer was no.
The Oscar winner was the subject of Entertainment Weekly's Women Who Kick Ass panel, where the star also spoke about her forthcoming action film Atomic Blonde, where she plays a ruthless MI6 spy.
Theron developed the film herself, after deciding to pursue a part she wanted: "I wanted something very specific... I was about to turn 40 so I decided to take matters in my own hands and actively go after something."
Praising films like Wonder Woman, she also asked fans to watch and help support female-led films to convince Hollywood bosses they're worth making.
"We're just as good as the guys - plus we have boobs!" she joked.
After the shocking conclusion of the first series of Westworld, fans were eager to see what was next in store for Dolores, Maeve, Bernard and the Man in Black.
It's not back on screens until next year, but a teaser was played showing the beginning of the robot uprising - with typically bloody action.
The cast talked about their experiences making the first series, including James Marsden talking about filming with 40 nude extras and Evan Rachel Wood trying to figure out the mysteries of the show when the creators wouldn't reveal it to them.
A highlight was Ed Harris revealing he's a Game of Thrones fan: "I don't know everything that's going on in that thing, but I enjoy watching it."
So true.
More details about the new Star Trek TV series Discovery were revealed by the cast, along with the first full trailer.
Former Walking Dead star Sonequa Martin-Green confirmed her character was raised on Vulcan as the adopted daughter of Spock's dad, Sarek.
Anthony Rapp announced he would be playing the first openly gay character in a Star Trek series, with his love interest played by My So-Called Life star Wilson Cruz.
And the Klingons will be speaking in Klingon with English subtitles for most the series. Qapla'! (that's Klingon for "success"...).
Hall H rounded off the day with a 90-minute mega Marvel presentation.
There was a surprise announcement that Michelle Pfeiffer was joining Ant-Man and The Wasp as original Wasp Janet Van Dyne.
There were also revelations about Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, a new trailer for Thor: Ragnarok and footage from Black Panther.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have marched to the office of China's top representative in the city.

Activists are angry about a decision by China to screen candidates for Hong Kong's 2017 leadership election. They want direct talks with Beijing.
Government supporters also took to the streets and confronted the protesters outside the representative's office.
Activists tied yellow ribbons, a symbol of their demand for more democracy, on the gates of the China liaison office.
The march on Sunday follows almost six weeks of sit-ins and road blockades in a number of central districts.
Hong Kong Chief executive CY Leung - who is in Beijing - received the full support of President Xi Jinping in his dealings with the protesters.
Mr Xi said that he firmly supported Hong Kong in "driving forward the development of democracy according to the law, and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong".
The BBC's John Sudworth in Hong Kong says that there is no sign that the Hong Kong government is prepared to make any concessions.
Protesters say that attempts to negotiate with the Hong Kong government have failed and now appear to be directing their grievances towards China's national leaders, our correspondent says.
China now has ultimate sovereignty over Hong Kong following the handover from Britain in 1997, although the territory still enjoys a large degree of autonomy.
The protesters began blocking a number of key areas of the city six weeks ago after they accused Beijing of breaking a promise of greater democracy.
The ruling communist party's new rules for the election of Hong Kong's chief executive allow it to veto candidates it deems unsuitable.


Labour is set to back plans to give ministers powers to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee, giving the move cross-party political support.

It has already got government backing although any final decision on the issue is unlikely before the summer of 2015 at the earliest.
It is understood Labour wants any move to a system of civil penalties to be piloted before being implemented.
The BBC has said a "proper review" of future options must be carried out.
At the moment, people can be sent to jail in connection with not paying the annual licence fee, which is used to fund BBC programmes and other output.
A TV licence, which is required if a user watches or records live broadcasts on any device in the UK, costs Â£145.50 per year.
Those who refuse to pay face a Â£1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid.
The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue outlined a possible timeline:
Labour has signalled its likely support for the move.
By Dominic CascianiHome affairs correspondent, BBC News
The difference between a criminal and civil offence is that one leads to a criminal punishment because it is an offence against all of society, while the other seeks to redress a wrong committed by one person against another.
In practice, magistrates don't jail people for criminal failure to pay a TV licence unless they have refused to pay a previous fine. That's because prisons are a last resort - reserved for the worst offenders.
If someone commits a civil wrong, there will be a finding against them in court that can include an order to make amends, including damages. If that person fails to comply with that order, that could amount to a contempt of court - and they can end up in jail.
In English law, civil damages are more limited than myth would have it - so a future civil penalty could be no more than the price of a licence fee plus legal costs.
"We are strong supporters of the BBC but it is very difficult to justify sending someone to prison for not paying the licence fee," party sources said.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who has led calls for decriminalisation, welcomed Labour's backing, saying at least 150 backbenchers also supported the idea, in addition to ministers.
He said "it was not a question of whether it would be decriminalised but how and when".
Under the MP's plan, ministers would be able to replace existing sanctions with "civil monetary penalties" under "statutory instrument" - meaning no further Act of Parliament was needed.
This power could be used only during a two-year period, starting from the completion of the proposed review. After that it would require approval by both Houses of Parliament.
The Ministry of Justice has said that 164,932 people were found guilty of TV licence evasion in 2012 and 51 went to prison for not paying subsequent fines.
Mr Bridgen said this amounted to one in nine cases before magistrates' courts.
Chancellor George Osborne said the idea of decriminalisation was "very interesting" and would be looked at "closely".
"It is getting more and more support across the parties and you can see it's all heading in a particular direction," he told Sky News.
The BBC's strategy director James Purnell said the impact on magistrates' courts of the current arrangement was less than feared.
"The last fact we saw was that it took up 0.3% of [court] time because most of these cases are processed pretty quickly - about three minutes on average," he told BBC Radio 4's PM.
He said the present system "works pretty well", but added:  "We are happy to work with government to see if it can be improved or whether there is an alternative that could be better."
The BBC's royal charter, which sets out the corporation's purposes and the way it is run, is reviewed every 10 years and the current one runs until the end of 2016.
Earlier this month, Mr Purnell had warned BBC channels could close if non-payment of the licence fee was decriminalised.
He said it would be a "huge risk" which would increase non-payment and cost the BBC Â£200m a year in lost licence fee revenue.


The Met Police has rejected claims from human rights groups that it dealt inappropriately with protesters during the Chinese president's state visit.

Shao Jiang, Sonam Choden and Jamphel Lhamo were arrested outside Mansion House in central London, on Wednesday before President Xi's arrival.
Amnesty International called the police's actions "very heavy-handed".
But the Met said the suggestion it was doing anything but regular police work was "wrong".
All three campaigners later had their houses raided by police.
Tsering Passang, of the Tibetan Community in Britain group, said: "The police were extremely over-handed and it shouldn't have been done that way.
"I was totally shocked at what happened, it was so unnecessary."
Allan Hogarth from Amnesty International added: "The video that has emerged looks like a very heavy-handed response to a peaceful demonstration."
After he was released, Dr Shao posted a photo of his bail conditions on Twitter, which appeared to show he was banned from approaching Chequers, Heathrow Airport and the Chinese president himself.
The Met issued two separate statements, the first of which asserted: "To suggest we were doing anything but the regular police work associated with public order and ceremonial events is wrong."
In a second statement, Commander Lucy D'Orsi wrote of her "disappointment" at hearing the view expressed that the Met was "working to the bidding of the Chinese to suppress protest".
She added: "My team and I have worked tirelessly to facilitate peaceful protest throughout the state visit. At all events this fundamental right to freedom of expression, afforded by the Human Rights Act, was available to everyone."
Shao Jiang, a London-based research scholar who was involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest, told BBC London earlier this week he was protesting because if the British Government follows the Chinese model, it will "push the issue of human rights away".