A dancer from Hull who became the first British dancer to be employed by the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia returns to the UK to perform with the company at Covent Garden.

Fresh fighting, close to where the Malaysia Airlines jet went down in Ukraine, has prevented international monitors from accessing the crash site for the second day in a row.

Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and 2008 US vice-presidential candidate, has launched a subscription-based online television channel.

A team of Dutch forensic investigators will again try to access the Malaysia Airlines wreckage site in eastern Ukraine.

The Australian government has approved the development of what could potentially be the country's biggest coal mine.

The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, has confirmed that the pilots of a plane that crashed in Mali last Thursday had asked for a change of course.

Muslims across the world are taking part in Eid celebrations to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

While AMD's Kaveri APUs initially launched on the desktop at the beginning of the year, for many the APUs looked like a better fit for laptops and notebooks. In early June, we were able to preview the performance of the first mobile Kaveri APUs in the form of a prototype laptop running the FX-7600P. Nearly two months later, laptops with Kaveri are starting to show up online. Interestingly, several of the first laptops to use Kaveri aren't consumer devices but instead target business users and in most cases opt for the PRO series of Kaveri APUs.

If you missed our coverage, the PRO series of APUs is essentially the same as the consumer models, only they're guaranteed to be available for a longer period of time so that businesses in particular don't have to worry about validating new processors or platforms. There are three PRO APUs, the PRO A6-7050B, the PRO A8-7150B, and the PRO A10-7350B. Note that all three parts are Ultra-Low Voltage models (17W for the A6 and 19W for the A8 and A10), and their intended competition is Intel's Core i3 and i5 ULV parts. Along with the PRO APUs, the first consumer laptops are showing up as well. All of the Kaveri laptops at present are using ULV APUs, which we haven't had a chance to test yet, but the improved Boost clocks should make them fairly competitive, and if you happen to use software that can leverage the GPU portion of the APU then Kaveri could prove a compelling option.

For those mostly looking at Kaveri as a decent budget laptop, let's start with the consumer models as prices are quite a bit lower. I couldn't find anything with the entry-level A6-7000, but there are a few options with the A8-7300. HP's ProBook 455 G2 (covered in more detail below) is priced at $572 with 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 1366x768 LCD. Acer has a 15.6" E5-551-89TN with 6GB RAM and a 1TB HDD starting at $480, which is the best price for a Kaveri laptop so far, though Amazon has a 4GB RAM/500GB HDD version listed for pre-order at $399. A10-7300 laptops include the Lenovo Z50, a 15.6-inch model with 1366x768 LCD, 8GB RAM, and 1TB HDD starting at $570, while Amazon has two more Acer models available for preorder: the E5-551-T5SV starts at $500 (4GB RAM and 500GB HDD with 1366x768 LCD) and the E5-551G-T0JN has 8GB RAM, a 1TB HDD, and Dual Graphics with a Radeon R7 M265 for only $600. That last one is certainly going to be the highest performing option, and the inclusion of a discrete GPU means even better gaming potential.

Sadly, while there are quite a few budget laptops with Kaveri now shipping (or shipping in the very near future), at present I have not been able to find any models with the new FX APUs. The 35W standard voltage (SV) Kaveri APUs are also missing right now, which is interesting as in the past it was often the SV parts that launched first with the ULV parts following a few months later. Both AMD and Intel seem to now be focusing more on ULV parts, which isn't a bad thing. That said, none of the laptops listed above appear to be going after long battery life; most are claiming five hours of battery life, but they're also doing that with 3- and 4-cell batteries. It would be good to see a few models with 6-cell batteries and 8+ hours of battery life, so hopefully someone will provide an appropriate model in the future.

As for the laptops that are shipping with the PRO APUs, let's quickly run through the current options. At present there are four offerings from HP using two of the PRO APUs. At the low-end of the pricing spectrum is the HP ProBook 455 G2, equipped with the PRO A6-7050B, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, and a 15.6" 1366x768 display with a price of $476. The one clear concession to the business class of laptops is the presence of a fingerprint scanner on all of these laptops (it's optional, but most of the models for sale at Newegg appear to include the fingerprint scanner). The price isn't too bad, but obviously the lack of RAM and the relatively large display mean this one isn't going to win any performance or portability competitions. The next step up in terms of price is the EliteBook 755 G2 with the same A6-7050B APU but sporting 4GB of RAM and running Windows 7 Professional, priced at $737.

Moving on to the HP models with the A10-7350B, there are three options: the same EliteBook 755 G2 is available with either 4GB RAM and a 1366x768 LCD for $843, or if you want a 1080p touchscreen and 8GB RAM the price jumps to $1091. A 14-inch version is the next option, with the EliteBook 745 G2 listed in three varieties (all with the A10-7350B): 4GB RAM and 1366x768 display priced at $820, 8GB RAM and 1600x900 display will set you back $906, or there's a third model listed at $1090, but some specs are missing so it's not clear why it costs so much more (it likely has an SSD, and a 1080p touchscreen is also a possibility). Last is the 12.5-inch EliteBook 725 G2, again in three variants: 4GB RAM and 1366x768 for $898, ditch the 500GB HDD for a 180GB SSD for $1100, or add a 1080p touchscreen for $1196. Pricing on all of these laptops is obviously quite a bit higher than what consumers would consider reasonable for the hardware, but for businesses the laptops might make sense.

Of the currently shipping Kaveri laptops, if you're itching to get your hands on one I'd say the Lenovo Z50 looks to be the best of the bunch. I like the styling more than some of the other offerings, and while I really would prefer an SSD, at least you do get 8GB of RAM and a large 1TB hard drive at a reasonable price of $570. If you're not in a rush, however, holding out for one of the Acer Kaveri-based laptop will get you a lower price. For those that don't really need a faster GPU, the $400 A8-7100 E5-551-86R8 will certainly suffice, while the A10-7300 mostly improves the GPU performance by increasing the number of GPU cores from 256 to 384 (with a slight boost in GPU clock speed as well). Spending $100 more to go from an A8-7100 to the A10-7300 is a bit much, and if you need more GPU performance at that point you might want to just go for the $600 Acer E5-551G instead. Regardless, it's good to see quite a few Kaveri laptops now shipping, and keeping the prices of the A8 and A10 models well under $600 will certainly help with sales.

Gallery: AMD Kaveri Laptops Sighted

Jim Reed asks whether passenger planes should fly over warzones after reports said the MH17 plane was 'downed by missile shrapnel'.

Atari: Game Over trailer.

On Friday, Xbox Entertainment Studios (XES) released a trailer for Atari: Game Over, a feature-length documentary about Atari's downfall after the 1983 North American video game crash. In April, Xbox dug up a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where video game lore suggested that hundreds of thousands of video games—specifically E.T. The Extra Terrestrial cartridges—were buried after E.T.'s fatal flop.

As you may have remembered from Ars' on-the-scene coverage, the rumor was proven to be more than just urban legend. Although the documentary's producer Jonathan Chinn admitted that Game Over would have gone forward whether the excavators found the cartridges or not, the companies behind the film had researched the area copiously and were confident the Atari refuse would be down there. They were right, and a few hours into the dig, a team of archaeologists and filmmakers pulled up a handful of barely tarnished E.T. and Centipede games among other Atari paraphernalia.

Although it seems like the documentary makers may have shown their hand too early (yep, everyone knows the games were down there by now), the excavators pulled up buckets and buckets of artifacts that press was not allowed to peruse. We'd be curious to hear more from people like archaeologist Andrew Reinhard, who was on the team that examined the contents of the landfill in-depth.

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Gay rights activists in China are preparing for a landmark court case against 'gay conversion therapy'.

The latest round of upcoming games for the Games with Gold program have been announced today, and unlike last month, there are no carryover games on the list. As seems to be the norm, Xbox One owners with Xbox Live Gold subscriptions will receive two games available for a free purchase for the entire month of August, while Xbox 360 owners get two games split over two weeks each. Hopefully this will get changed soon so that all games are available for the entire month.

Xbox One Crimson Dragon

“Available Aug. 1-31, Crimson Dragon, originally an Xbox One launch title, and acts as a spiritual successor to the much-beloved Panzer Dragoon saga. It’s a fast-paced rail shooter set in a beautiful fantasy world, where you can join with up to three other players for online co-op battles. You have a half-dozen majestic draconian steeds to choose from, and they level up as you progress through the game’s epic story. Crimson Dragon also features a killer soundtrack, courtesy of Panzer Dragoon composer Saori Kobayashi.”

The game is set in a science fiction universe where humans have recently colonized a planet inhabited by dragons, which can be befriended and controlled. The game is a spiritual successor to the Panzer Dragoon series, however critical and user reviews of the game have been mixed. The game scores a 56/100 on Metacritic and 6.6 for the User score. Crimson Dragon normally sells for $19.99.

Strike Suite Zero: Director’s Cut

“Also available Aug. 1-31, Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut has its origins in crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and was the first title from the ID@Xbox program. You take on the role of a pilot of the titular suit, flying it against aggressors in epic space battles. One of the key hooks is that you are only a small part of these battles, with huge ships duking it out around you, and your objectives within them clearly defined – but it’s up to you to accomplish them as you see fit. With fantastic ship design, gigantic battles, and plenty of weapons and enemies to deal with, Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut gives space-sim fans on Xbox One plenty to chew on.”

Strike Suit Zero is from the independent game developer Born Ready Games, and was originally a Kickstarter project. Strike Suit Zero was originally released on the PC in January 2013, with Mac and Linux versions coming out in August. The game is a space flight combat game where you play a fighter pilot for the United Nations of Earth. It scored slightly higher than Crimson Dragon in both critical reviews and user scores, with a 68/100 and 6.9 User score on Metacritic. Strike Suit Zero normally sells for $19.99.

Xbox 360 Motocross Madness

“Available Aug. 1-15, back on earth Xbox 360 gamers get to tool around the dirt tracks and mud pits of their imaginations with Motocross Madness, an off-road motorcycle racing game. Racing against the clock (or other racers) is just a small part of this one, as you’ll be able to perform tricks, run through obstacle courses, or just motor around big maps and explore as you please. Asynchronous multiplayer via social networks means you can involve your friends, even if they’re off doing something else while you’re playing. Unlimited potential!”

Bongfish GmbH is the developer for the first of the Xbox 360 games, Motocross Madness. This off-road motorcycle racing game has been well received by both fans and critics alike, scoring a 73 Metascore for critics reviews, and 8.3 as a User score. Motocross Madness normally retails for $9.99 in the Xbox 360 store.

Dishonored

“Finally, available Aug. 16-31, Xbox 360 owners get to experience Dishonored, an award-winning steampunk stealth/action title. You play Corvo, erstwhile bodyguard of the Empress, turned assassin. Your job is to protect the princess, take out the bad guys who are trying to take over the Empire, and do it all undetected. You have an arsenal of gadgets, weapons, and magical powers to help you, but the most important is your own brain. Challenges in Dishonored often have multiple solutions, so lateral thinking is more important than a quick trigger finger. You can blast your way through, too, to be sure – there’s something for everyone here – but cleverness is rewarded more than aggression.”

The second game for the Xbox 360 is Dishonored by Arkane Studios. Dishonored, which normally sells for $19.99, originally came out in October 2012. This is a stealth based action-adventure game which received numerous awards including the 2012 Spike Video Game award for Best Action-Adventure Game and the 2013 BAFTA award for Best Game. It received a 91/100 Metascore on Metacritic and a 8.3 User Score.

This month’s Games with Gold seems to favor the Xbox 360 as far as the overall reception of the games. That’s not a huge surprise considering the much larger catalog. In case you missed it, last month’s games can still be had until July 31, so check them out if you missed them.

The Nexus line is definitely not dead. Over the weekend, a report from Android Police claimed Google and the soon-to-be Lenovo-owned Motorola are working together on a 5.9-inch Nexus phone. Today, a separate report from The Information (subscription required) corroborates the earlier report and provides additional details.

Android Police pointed out the existence of a new Nexus device in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code base, code-named "Shamu." As we went over before I/O, Nexus devices are always named after fish. The Nexus 5 is called "Hammerhead," and the 2013 Nexus 7 is called "Razor." The devices discovered before I/O were "Molly," which ended up being the Android TV developer kit, and "Flounder," which hasn't surfaced yet but is believed to be a 4:3 Nexus tablet made by HTC. (In the Material Design documents and promotional materials, Google frequently shows a 4:3 Android tablet next to other Nexus devices.)

Being in AOSP and having a fish codename means the device is definitely a Google-made Android device. The report, which was labeled a "rumor," says Shamu is a 5.9-inch device that will be manufactured by Motorola. It also mentioned the possibility of a fingerprint sensor and a November release. The name "Shamu" would certainly fit the theme of a large device.

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Most border crossings in Liberia are being closed to try to halt the spread of Ebola.

The Federal Communications Commission just started taking public comments on whether it should preempt state laws that limit the growth of municipal broadband in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Twenty states have passed such limits, which protect private Internet service providers from having to compete against cities and towns that seek to provide Internet, TV, and phone service to residents. After FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he intends to use the commission's authority to preempt the state laws, the commission received petitions from two public entities that want to expand broadband offerings.

"On July 24, 2014, the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the City of Wilson, North Carolina filed separate petitions asking that the Commission act pursuant to section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preempt portions of Tennessee and North Carolina state statutes that restrict their ability to provide broadband services," the FCC said today. "The Electric Power Board is an independent board of the City of Chattanooga that provides electric and broadband service in the Chattanooga area. The City of Wilson provides electric service in six counties in eastern North Carolina and broadband service in Wilson County. Both Petitioners allege that state laws restrict their ability to expand their broadband service offerings to surrounding areas where customers have expressed interest in these services, and they request that the Commission preempt such laws."

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Officials from China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) made surprise visits to four Microsoft offices today as part of what is described by the Financial Times as an antitrust probe. Offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu were inspected by SAIC officials.

The nature of the investigation is currently unclear, with neither Microsoft nor SAIC offering any details. So far, the regulator has made no formal complaint against the company.

Microsoft is already in the Chinese government's crosshairs, with the government issuing a ban on the use of Windows 8 on government PCs due to security concerns. In June, the state-run broadcaster called into question the security of the operating system and cited experts claiming that the company was working with the US government to spy online.

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Sharks Cove. Microsoft

Even Microsoft wants a piece of the development board market made famous by Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

Microsoft has teamed up with Intel and hardware maker CircuitCo to design the $300 "Sharks Cove," now available for pre-order. Described as a "development board that you can use to develop hardware and drivers for Windows and Android," it contains an Intel Atom Z3735G, a quad-core chip with speeds of 1.33GHz to 1.83GHz. It has 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage, and a MicroSD slot.

Microsoft made its pitch in a blog post this past weekend:

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If you want to use a safe-for-work photo in an article about Hustler, a word to the wise: Stick to its casino offshoots. Laurie Avocado

Hustler Magazine founder Larry Flynt has begun making the interview rounds to promote the pornography magazine's 40th anniversary, but in a Monday interview with Bloomberg TV, the incendiary publisher spoiled the birthday party by predicting a short lifespan for his print edition.

"I don't think Hustler's going to be around very much longer," Flynt said. "Most people are getting their information from the Internet. It's a technology evolution that brings a lot with it and takes a lot away." When asked if he knew when the magazine would cease publication, Flynt said that it will remain so long as it continues to make money, adding "but we can see the handwriting on the wall."

While other major publishers have gone to great lengths to bemoan the modern media landscape, Flynt proved level-headed in the interview. In fact, he pointed out that his company's print portfolio only makes up ten percent of its revenue. "Our company has diversified so much," he said, noting bustling Internet success along with cable and satellite TV revenue throughout Europe, Latin America, and Asia (with the notable exception of censorship-heavy China, which Flynt mentioned before reminding viewers of his Supreme Court victory in 1988).

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Argonne National Lab

The energy storage density of batteries has made remarkable strides in the last few decades, but people will always be happy with further improvements. The more charge you can stuff into a limited space, the longer cellphones will last and the farther electric cars will drive.

Right now, the anodes of lithium-ion batteries contain material that stores lithium in its structure. It would be more efficient to simply make the anode out of lithium metal itself, but early attempts to do so haven't worked out especially well, as the metal forms structures that rapidly degrade performance of the battery. Now, researchers have figured out how to put a carbon cap on top of the metal, keeping the lithium in its place and greatly enhancing the anode's stability.

The researchers behind the new paper, who are based at Stanford, nicely describe the problems with some of the previous work on lithium metal electrodes. To begin with, as charge moves in and out of the electrodes, they will necessarily grow and shrink with the changes in the amount of lithium present. This strains any electrolyte they're in contact with, frequently causing defects to appear at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Once these defects form, lithium metal will preferentially be added at these sites, causing extremely uneven growth.

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Marine experts have said a dolphin spotted in the River Severn in Gloucestershire will make its own way back to the sea.