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Barbecues Galore barbecue expert, Adam Roberts explains the secret to grilling different meats to get that perfect shade of 'cooked'. If you have the responsibility of cooking the meat for your next barbecue, there are some basic things you can do to get the perfect grill. The time it takes to cook your meats will vary depending on what's on the menu, so it can be a juggle to manage everything at once, but we've got you covered with Adam's foolproof cooking strategy. Internal temperatures Adam says that cooking meats to their optimum internal temperature can greatly improve the tenderness and texture of the meat. "Each meat or poultry cut has an optimum internal temperature range, or what I like to call 'the sweet spot' for tenderness and also doneness," says Adam. For beef, he says we already know about rare, medium rare and medium cooking preferences, but each of these finishes actually corresponds with an internal temperature of the meat. So, how can we achieve the exact temperature for meat? A digital thermometer can be stuck into the meat when grilling. This will give you a perfect result every time. Using a thermometer "Whilst the beef and lamb are cooking, turn the meat periodically to ensure even cooking on all sides and edges," says Adam. "Simply probe the meat with the digital thermometer several times during the cooking process until you reach your target internal temperature." For chicken and other poultry cuts, you really want to be cooking the cut to a 'safe to eat' range, but Adam says it's common to overcook the chicken so it ends up dry and chewy. "Done right, chicken should be soft, moist and still full of flavourful juices. Achieving this perfect doneness for chicken is made really easy with the use of a digital thermometer," he says. Optimal internal temperatures Lamb cutlets - medium rare - (55C) Beefscotch fillet steak - medium rare - (58C) Chicken breast - safe range approximate - (74-76C) Timing is everything Avoid leaving dishes resting and cold after they've been grilled by strategically planning the order of your meat grilling. "Prepare all of your cold foods first, such as salads, slaws and breads and set them to the side or in the fridge until the hot food is ready," says Adam. "When it comes to the cooking process, start cooking the meats or foods that take the longest first, and then add the extras to the grill in order to how long they take to cook." Follow this guide for cooking times: Steak - approx cook time 15 mins, rest time 6 mins = 21 mins Thin pork sausage - approx cook time 12 mins, rest time 2 mins = 14 mins Chicken breast - approx cook time 8 mins, rest time, 2 mins = 10 mins. "Using this guide, you'll want to start with the steaks first, then seven minutes later, add the pork sausage and then four minutes after that, add the chicken," suggests Adam. "This will ensure all the cuts are ready at approximately the same time."

Mini celebrates its 60th birthday in 2019. Wolseley Hornet (1969) - 73,951 miles - £8000 Mini Moke (1989) - 40,000 miles - £8995 Ice cream van (1967) - 61,400 miles - £29,999

Donald Trump: "Their land is gone" US President Donald Trump has said territory held by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq could be "100%" liberated as early as next week. "It should be announced, probably some time next week, that we will have 100% of the caliphate," he told a gathering of coalition partners. However, he also cautioned that he wanted to "wait for the official word". US military and intelligence officials say IS could stage a comeback without sustained counter-terrorism pressure. Families flee last IS village in Syria Trump rewrites US Syria policy After the caliphate: Has IS been defeated? Mr Trump shocked coalition allies in December when he declared that the group had been defeated, amid reports he wanted to pull out US soldiers within 30 days. But he later slowed the withdrawal after several resignations from key defence officials and strong criticism from Republicans and allies abroad. The global coalition against IS, now numbering nearly 80 nations, was formed in 2014 after the group overran swathes of territory and went on to launch terror attacks outside the region. How does Trump view the battle against IS now? "Their land is gone," he told Wednesday's conference in Washington. "The Isis [IS] caliphate has been decimated." But the group still had "tiny sections that can be so dangerous", he said, and "foreign fighters must not gain access" to the US. US ground troops first became involved in Syria in 2015 He also referred to the IS propaganda machine, which recruited fighters from Europe and other regions. "For a period of time they used the internet better than we did," he said. "They used the internet brilliantly but now it's not so brilliant." The US leader thanked coalition partners, saying, "We will be working together for many years to come." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged the US would continue to fight IS, despite withdrawing troops from Syria. He called the troop pullout a "tactical change... not a change in the mission", and said the world was entering an "era of decentralised jihad". Has IS really been defeated? It has certainly lost control of most of the territory it overran, including its strongholds of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. However, fighting continues in north-eastern Syria, where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they captured dozens of foreign fighters in recent weeks. A suspected IS member captured by US-backed forces near the Syrian border with Iraq last week On Tuesday the head of the US military's Central Command, Gen Joseph Votel, told a Senate committee up to 1,500 IS militants remained in a 20 sq mile (52 sq km) pocket on Syria's border with Iraq. 'IS attack' kills US troops in Syria The enduring appeal of violent jihad The group, he said, still had "leaders, fighters, facilitators, resources and the profane ideology that fuels their efforts". Meanwhile, a report by a US defence department watchdog cited Central Command as saying that without sustained pressure IS "could likely resurge in Syria within six to 12 months". Another challenge is what to do with the hundreds of foreign fighters captured by the SDF, as well as their families. Governments in their home countries are reluctant to take back radicalised militants who swore allegiance to Islamic State. How will an IS comeback be stopped? By Barbara Plett Usher, BBC state department correspondent President Trump's comments were more than a month late, as he did not consult his allies about his decision in December to withdraw US troops from Syria. The shock from the surprise announcement has settled, but coalition members want to know how this is going to play out. It's not clear that the administration has sorted that out. Both Mr Trump and Mike Pompeo called on other nations to take on more commitments for the continued campaign against the IS group, but said they were still in the fight - America would continue to lead it, Mr Pompeo said. Mr Trump had previously suggested that some of the troops in Syria could be moved to American bases in neighbouring Iraq, from where they could launch commando operations across the border as necessary. But there are still no official details about how the US will continue the counter-terrorism pressure Mr Trump's generals and intelligence officials have said is necessary to stop IS militants from staging a comeback.

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The modern successor to Myst, but let’s not hold that against it too much. The Witness is more of a puzzle than a classic adventure, where every interaction revolves around simply drawing paths onto screens. Did I say ‘simply’? Forget that part. Early on it asks for nothing more than connecting a couple of dots, but it’s not long before the grammar of the puzzles is as complicated as any of the actual solutions. Bit by bit, The Witness teaches you how it works, and as you explore, you may even figure out why it exists. But don’t expect an easy answer there either. If you like your puzzle games with a side of philosophy, and more purpose than just cranking out levels, check it out.

Doom Eternal TBA | id Software | Link | FPS Doom Eternal brings hell to Earth, a nice change of setting from 2016's excellent reboot. Expect to fight twice as many demons in this instalment, using a brutal upgraded armoury. This includes a new version of the Super Shotgun, which features a grapple-friendly 'meat hook' on the end, and hopefully a ton more ludicrous weapon mods. Metro Exodus February 22 | 4A Games | Link | Shooter The newest Metro features the series' most open levels yet, letting you spend more time outdoors than ever. You'll travel by train during four seasons, offering a change of pace to Artyom's previous post-apocalyptic adventures beneath Moscow. Tom described Exodus as a "beautiful mood piece that will frustrate some shooter fans" back in August. Dying Light 2 TBA | Techland | Link | Open world Dying Light 2 brings big choices to the open world zombie series. With writer Chris Avellone helping in the system's creation, your decisions will shape what happens to the city around you. Liberate a water tower, for example, and you can hand it over to authoritarian rulers so everyone can drink from it—they'll even repair the area around it, too, making it easier to navigate. You can also choose to hand it to shadier characters, who'll sell access to the water but give you a cut. Expect to see a lot more of how these decisions affect this ambitious game across 2019.

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MPs are preparing to vote on whether to back Theresa May's deal for leaving the European Union. The so-called "meaningful vote" will take place later as five days of debate on Brexit come to an end. Mrs May has called for politicians to back her deal or risk "letting the British people down". But with many of her own MPs expected to join opposition parties to vote against the deal, it is widely expected to be defeated. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox will open the last day of debate at about 12:50 GMT, with Mrs May due to close the debate with a speech from about 18:30 GMT. Voting will start at about 19:00 GMT, starting with backbench amendments that could reshape the deal and then the vote on the withdrawal agreement itself. The prime minister is addressing her cabinet on Tuesday morning, after she attempted on Monday evening to win Tory MPs' support for her deal - which includes both the withdrawal agreement on the terms on which the UK leaves the EU and a political declaration for the future relationship. In the Commons, she said: "It is not perfect but when the history books are written, people will look at the decision of this House and ask, 'Did we deliver on the country's vote to leave the EU, did we safeguard our economy, security or union, or did we let the British people down?'" Mrs May also tried to reassure MPs over the controversial Northern Irish "backstop" - the fallback plan to avoid any return to physical border checks between the country and Ireland. She pointed to new written assurances from the EU that the contingency customs arrangement being proposed would be temporary and, if triggered, would last for "the shortest possible period". Environment Secretary Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that rejecting Mrs May's deal would lead to a no-deal Brexit with short term economic damage "or worse, no Brexit at all". He said with this deal "we've picked a whole bowl of glistening cherries", despite the fact the EU had said at the beginning of negotiations that there would be no "cherry picking". "If we don't vote for this agreement then we risk playing into the hands of those who do not want Brexit to go ahead," he said. But many Tory MPs and the Democratic Unionists remain adamantly opposed to the deal. About 100 Conservative MPs - and the Democratic Unionist Party's 10 MPs - could join Labour and the other opposition parties to vote it down. Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said that Brexiteers like him could back a deal if aspects such as the backstop were dealt with. He told the Today programme the EU had played "a smart game of hard ball" and said it was time for the UK to do the same. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster called the backstop "toxic" and said her party's 10 MPs would be voting against the deal. "It's time for a sensible deal which governs our exit from the EU and supports all parts of the UK," she said on Twitter. The deal suffered a heavy defeat in the House of Lords on Monday night, as peers backed a Labour motion by 321 votes to 152. While the vote carries no real weight, as peers accepted MPs should have the final say, the motion - which also rejected a "no deal" scenario - expressed "regret" that Mrs May's deal would "damage the future economic prosperity, internal security and global influence" of the UK. However, five Conservative Brexiteer MPs who have been critics of the withdrawal agreement have now said they will support the government, along with three Labour backbenchers and independent Frank Field. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said it showed there had been "progress" but admitted to the BBC's Politics Live that gaining support was "challenging". A number of amendments to Mrs May's deal have been put forward by MPs to try to make changes to it in Parliament. Proposals include giving MPs a vote on whether to implement the backstop and putting a time limit on how long the backstop could last. Labour MP Hilary Benn had planned an amendment to reject the deal and prevent no deal - but has since told BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith that he has withdrawn his proposal. Mr Benn told the Today programme that he wanted there to be a "clear, single vote" on Mrs May's deal, so that there was "clarity" on why it was being rejected. When asked what the margin of defeat could be for Mrs May, former Downing Street director of legislative affairs Nikki da Costa told Today she expected it to be within the "50 to 80 mark". The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, will decide which amendments can go forward to be voted on just before the vote on the deal itself. Speaking to his own backbenchers last night, Mr Corbyn again condemned the deal and reiterated his call for a general election if it is voted down by Parliament. He also promised Labour would call a no-confidence vote in the government "soon". He said: "Theresa May has attempted to blackmail Labour MPs to vote for her botched deal by threatening the country with the chaos of no deal. I know from conversations with colleagues that this has failed. The Labour party will not be held to ransom." Towards the end of seven hours of Commons debate, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said if Labour could not force a change of government, ministers must cede power to allow MPs across Parliament to work together "to secure the best compromise to protect our country". Chancellor Philip Hammond wound up the fourth day of debate just after 02:00 GMT on Tuesday, by warning that no-one would get "exactly the Brexit they want". Leaving the EU without a deal would be "every bit as much a betrayal as no Brexit at all", he argued, saying it would not deliver on the promise of greater prosperity. What happens next? If the deal is rejected by MPs, Mrs May has three sitting days to return to Parliament with a "Plan B". Some have suggested she would head to Brussels on Wednesday to try to get further concessions from the EU, before returning to the Commons to give a statement about her new proposal by Monday. This could then be put to a vote by MPs. If this also fails, there is a proposal put forward by senior Conservative backbenchers Nick Boles, Sir Oliver Letwin and Nicky Morgan for a "European Union Withdrawal Number 2 Bill". This would give ministers another three weeks to come up with another plan and get it through Parliament. If this doesn't work either, they propose giving the responsibility of coming up with a compromise deal to the Liaison Committee - which is made up of the chairmen and chairwomen of all the Commons select committees, drawn from opposition parties as well as the Conservatives. New referendum proposal In another development, a cross-party group of anti-Brexit politicians has published proposed legislation to bring about another referendum to ask the public whether they want to remain in the EU or leave under the prime minister's deal. The MPs behind the draft legislation point out that Article 50 - the two-year process by which an EU member can leave the bloc - would have to be extended in order for another referendum to take place, meaning the UK would remain a member beyond 29 March. But, unless new legislation is introduced, the default position will be that the UK leaves the EU on that date with no deal.

Life with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Month 3 Mixing with McLarens - 9th January 2019 This poorly composed pic shows our S500 parked with a couple of recent trade-ins at McLaren’s new Leeds dealership. We were there to drive McLarens to the company’s deeply impressive composite centre in Sheffield. The Maccas were brilliant, but it was just as enjoyable to drive the world’s finest open-roads cruiser back home to London. Mileage: 5350 Ample room for parking is a must - 5th December 2018 We’ve taken to parking the big Merc in a new, roomy space near the office, not commuting much but grabbing it every time a long trip is in the offing. Especially helpful is the S500’s easy-to-operate voice-operated comms package. It’s amazing how much low-level business you can get done while drifting smoothly and quietly along motorways. Mileage: 4038 Back to the top Life with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Month 2 We herald a welcome return after rear-end crash annoyance - 21 November 2018 If you’ve been waiting patiently for news of our mighty white S500 hybrid, you’ll have noted a distinct information hiatus. About the time our first report ran in early October, we were arranging crash repairs – after a lady in a venerable yellow Astra hit it resoundingly up the backside at about 20mph. It was a classic suburban accident. The traffic ahead came to an abrupt halt, the big Benz demonstrated its superb retardation abilities by stopping dead straight and in plenty of time despite a split-grip situation (dry road crown, wet kerbside) but, sadly, the Vauxhall did not. The impact felt quite severe so it was surprising to see a lack of visual damage (in marked contrast to the rearranged grille/wings/bonnet front of the Astra), but it was soon clear the S-Class’s shock-absorbing mechanisms beneath the rear bumpers had been heavily disturbed, and the exhaust system (including catalytic converters) had moved a long way on its mountings. Off went the Big S to a firm of authorised Mercedes repairers with a hope we’d see it again in three to four weeks. So it proved. The Benz came back to us without the slightest sign of recent difficulties, not even a whiff of paint or glue. The only change was the application of a special coating that protects matt finishes like the specialist Magno Cashmere White of our car (a £3650 option that stops it looking like wedding transport). Mileage: 4038 Back to the top Life with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Month 2 We herald a welcome return after rear-end crash annoyance - 21 November 2018 If you’ve been waiting patiently for news of our mighty white S500 hybrid, you’ll have noted a distinct information hiatus. About the time our first report ran in early October, we were arranging crash repairs – after a lady in a venerable yellow Astra hit it resoundingly up the backside at about 20mph. It was a classic suburban accident. The traffic ahead came to an abrupt halt, the big Benz demonstrated its superb retardation abilities by stopping dead straight and in plenty of time despite a split-grip situation (dry road crown, wet kerbside) but, sadly, the Vauxhall did not. The impact felt quite severe so it was surprising to see a lack of visual damage (in marked contrast to the rearranged grille/wings/bonnet front of the Astra), but it was soon clear the S-Class’s shock-absorbing mechanisms beneath the rear bumpers had been heavily disturbed, and the exhaust system (including catalytic converters) had moved a long way on its mountings. Off went the Big S to a firm of authorised Mercedes repairers with a hope we’d see it again in three to four weeks. So it proved. The Benz came back to us without the slightest sign of recent difficulties, not even a whiff of paint or glue. The only change was the application of a special coating that protects matt finishes like the specialist Magno Cashmere White of our car (a £3650 option that stops it looking like wedding transport). Love it: A TOUCH OF CLASS All-encompassing refinement. Whatever the surface, it deals with it better than you’d expect. Loathe it: THE MULTI-STOREY STORY Loathe is too strong, but the longer wheelbase is limiting. Even without the extra 100mm, an S is spacious. Mileage: 3031 Since 1972, we’ve known this one incontrovertible fact: if you want to know where the automobile is up to in terms of practical luxury and comfort, you’ll find the answer in the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class. We’re not talking here about ‘bespokeness’. That’s usually a matter of richer-than-you owners attempting to one-up their peers. But if you want to investigate the latest and highest standards of mechanical refinement, big-car efficiency, seat and cabin comfort and driving ease brought by ever-more-ingenious gadgetry, the latest S-Class will provide you with the answers. Merc’s biggest saloon sits on one of those peculiar pedestals in motoring like the Porsche 911: it has decent rivals but no true equivalents. That Mercedes has been able to keep it this way for 45 years is a staggering achievement, and (we believe) good reason to add one to our test fleet. But why an S500? Three reasons: first, the S500 has always been the mainstream choice for people who weren’t simply buying a diesel ‘airport car’. Second, I’m this car’s custodian and I’ve already had two S500s over the years. How interesting to investigate their differences and surprising similarities. Third, for as long as ‘S500’ has been appearing on Mercedes bootlids, the variant’s motive power has been a meaty V8, until now. This latest car has a new 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with a 48V integrated starter-generator (ISG) providing assistance and collecting braking energy. How interesting to see whether the traditional S500 virtues – imperious smoothness and poke and no noise unless you really insist – are delivered by the new model. In the UK, an S500L saloon starts at £86,330 on the road, which sounds pretty reasonable for what you get, especially since the only 500 you can buy gets AMG Line body bits to make it look more aggressive and sporty – and a lot less like an airport car. Egged on by contacts at Mercedes, we added a collection of extras that ended up costing just over £25,000 which, given that extras are traditionally high mark-up items for car makers, gives you a pretty clear view of where they make their money. In summary, our gadgetry consists of four comprehensive option packs (Premium Plus, Driving Assistance, Executive equipment and Exclusive nappa leather) plus four individual options: night view (£2080), privacy glass (£345), Designo matt white paint (£3650) and intelligent rear belts (£995). The Premium Plus pack (£5395) adds stuff like soft-close doors, a mega hi-fi and a 360deg camera. The Driving Assistance pack (£1695) adds active distance control, steering, braking and blind-spot assist and a gizmo that will adjust your speed into bends. The Executive equipment (£4600) provides extra levels of comfort front and rear, plus stuff like roller-blinds for the rear window, and the Exclusive nappa leather pack (£6890) trims the big Mercedes in the best-looking materials available. In short, our S-Class is a white car whose body addenda, 19in AMG wheels and white matt paint take it about as far away from the dreaded ‘wedding car’ look as it’s possible to get, while preserving a limo-look that promises exactly what you get when you first set this car in motion: a class-topping luxury motoring experience. The car hardly moves when you start it. Straight sixes are famously smooth, and the 48V ISG is large and powerful, so the usual ‘ruh-ruh-ruh’ just isn’t there. There’s silence, you press the start button and there’s a distant hum, and you’re hard-pressed to determine when one changed to the other. That’s refinement, and it speaks for the way so many things operate in this car. The power unit drives through a seamless nine-speed automatic gearbox. There are two regimes, Sport and Comfort, which vary how long lower ratios are held. There are paddles if you insist on changing gear yourself, but the decisions the ’box makes on its own are so flawless that you soon leave it to its own devices, except for one situation: you’ll find yourself using the gears for engine braking on long hills. The ISG merrily garners braking energy on downgrades (there’s a meter to show it happening) but there are times when you need more engine braking to slow two tonnes of kerb weight. It’s a big car. You have to take care with the generous front overhangs and with kerbing the rear wheels in tight corners. The S500 sighs about town almost as if it has no motive power at all, but the driver will always need to steer accurately, simply because it’s nearly 5.3m long and occupies more road than most. On arterial roads and motorways, it’s marvellous. In Comfort, it has a spectacularly capable secondary ride that obliterates ripples and ruts while allowing some gentle body motion to gently signal its softness. The Sport setting gently reverses the position: the car is dead flat, in exchange for a minuscule increase in bump noise. You find yourself changing the setting according to your mood. So far we’ve covered almost 1000 miles in the big Merc and the fuel mileage is running at about 34mpg. Much of that driving has been around town, but I have a feeling fast cruising is going to be this car’s true metier. I’m already thinking of ways to give the S500 its head, and I know I’m going to enjoy it.

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Originally announced for December 11, finally released ten days later, Atlas missed its exit early access. Surrounded by problems, the MMO is the subject of a message from Grapeshot Games. The studio spoke on Steam to confirm the difficult start of the game of hackers, and to give its goals for the coming weeks. These are mainly concerns of connection and stability as well as bugs encountered by the first comers, which is worth Atlas "rather negative" evaluations on the platform. The developers recognize that they have a lot of work ahead of them, and promise many improvements, server and client side, on a daily basis.

Firewatch Expectations were high for Telltale’s Walking Dead creators when they founded their new company, and they were met with this fascinatingly low-key follow-up. No zombies. No axe-wielding psychopaths. Just the story of a man, Henry, escaping his life by taking a job watching for fires in Wyoming, and the relationship he develops with his boss, Delilah. At least, to begin with. Some of the mystery that follows is opinion-splitting material, but Campo Santo nails both the loneliness and the camaraderie of being vulnerable and isolated in even mostly-safe situations. Even when the thriller part fades, the exquisite character piece remains.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Release date: November 6, 2015 Format: Xbox One, PS4, PC Advertisement What is it? Call of Duty began as WW2-era shooter focused on recreating the tense drama of war. Since then, we've had CoD games set during the Cold War, Vietnam War, modern day, even the far future and outer space. Black Ops 3 is the current Goldilocks of the CoD legacy, which is to say it sits somewhere in the middle and manages to feel juuuust right. Not too futuristic, not too held back by the past, Black Ops 3 infuses smart design with fluid gameplay to create something that feels unique and powerful without straying too far from its roots. Choosing a specific character gives competitive multiplayer a slight MOBA feel, while the campaign re-introduces four-player co-op to the series. And of course, let's not forget our undead friends lurking in the Zombies mode, which gets an entire city in Black Ops 3. Best for: A night (or week, or month) of fast-paced, highly-competitive running and gunning, or anyone who wants to see Jeff Goldblum as a zombie-slaughtering magician. Sam Prell

PC players have a lot to look forward to in 2019. Big-name teams are rolling out sequels to many beloved series with the likes of Doom Eternal, Gears 5, and Tom Clancy's The Division 2, and we'll also see brand-new properties from famed developers like From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and BioWare's Anthem. A few other games are going to see the light of day in 2019 after delays, most notably Crackdown 3. The open-world action game was expected to launch in 2016, and after several delays, it's finally set to release in February. That month will also see the launch of Metro Exodus, the third entry in the superb single-player first-person shooter series, which had a short delay from its initial Fall 2018 window. Smaller games are also set to make big splashes in 2019, such as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which is a spiritual successor to the 2D Castlevania games from producer Koji Igarashi. Sea of Solitude is another one worth keeping an eye on, as it's an independent adventure game with a unique art style, published by EA. Another indie gem with the backing of a big publisher is Ori and The Will of the Wisps, sequel to Xbox One console exclusive Ori and the Blind Forest. Those are just a few of the exciting games coming to PC in 2019 and beyond; for a full breakdown of everything you can expect, check out the list below. In this feature, we've included both games confirmed for 2019 and ones that we aren't yet sure about so you know what's coming on the horizon. There are plenty of exciting new PC games set to release next year. Let us know in the comments below which of these games you're looking forward to most, as well as what you're still hoping is announced. BioWare's next game, Anthem, is quite a departure from what the studio is known for. Instead of a narrative-driven RPG, Anthem will be BioWare's take on a multiplayer RPG shooter, which shares similarities with the Destiny franchise. Mobility is one of the most important components in Anthem as you'll be flying your way through environments with impressive verticality using boost jets on your exosuit, called the Javelin. These suits also act as combat classes that can be swapped out; you won't have to commit a character to a specific Javelin. Whether or not you're into the new direction, Anthem is undoubtedly one of the biggest games to pay attention to in early 2019. Babylon’s Fall Babylon’s Fall is the latest game by famed studio Platinum Games. Based on the reveal trailer, the upcoming project appears to be fantasy-themed action game. You appear to play as a knight with unique magical abilities. Battletoads A brand-new Battletoads game has been announced. No gameplay was shown, but we did learn, however, that it will have three-player couch co-op and 2.5D graphics. In addition, the art in the game appeared hand-drawn--at least according to the announcement trailer. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night If you have any fondness for the Castlevania games, you might want to keep an eye on Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. It's a Kickstarter game that's aiming to capture the spirit of the metroidvania-style, and you should be optimistic since it's being led by Koji Igarashi, a long-time producer of the Castlevania franchise--he's worked on Symphony of the Night, Dawn of Sorrow, and Harmony of Dissonance, to name a few. Though it still plays as a side-scroller, Bloodstained has a 2.5D art-style (3D backgrounds and character models with 2D gameplay). You'll be playing as Miriam, an orphan taken in by the Alchemists guild which is now caught up drama thanks to former member Gebel who has gone off the deep end. Code Vein Originally slated for release in September 2018, Code Vein is now scheduled for 2019 after a short delay. The Bandai Namco title stars vampires and is often aptly referred to as "anime Dark Souls" with its blend of anime and apocalyptic art styles. Bandai Namco has released several Code Vein character trailers in the lead-up to release to whet fans' appetites.

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But what about the things we don't know? The following might not be set in stone, but Autocar's writers have predicted what you can expect from the automotive industry in 2019. James Dyson will spark a revolution Inventor James Dyson is promising a revolutionary electric car on sale in 2021, which makes 2019 a critical year as he readies a new British test track and Singapore manufacturing plant for operations. The Singapore factory is due to be finished in 2020 and a first sight of at least a sketch of the Dyson EV must be a strong possibility this year, most likely in the last quarter. As a new market entrant, Dyson can reveal details of his new car without the risk of adversely affecting sales of an existing model, although the company will be acutely aware of revealing too much to rivals. Dyson has a history of defending its designs and R&D spending in the courts and six years ago accused Bosch – whose automotive division is one of the world’s biggest car parts suppliers – of stealing secrets of patented high-speed brushless motors. Since then, Dyson has been locked in a legal battle at the European Court over energy labelling of vacuum cleaners, again putting him at loggerheads with Bosch’s home products division. However, the need to prepare car buyers for the surprise of a Dyson-designed electric car may well override concerns over intellectual property and encourage the British inventor to reveal outline details of the new car 12 or 18 months ahead of its launch. Julian Rendell Brexit? Who knows… but it won’t be simple Regardless of your political view, we can all agree that Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union hasn’t exactly been smooth or predictable. And events unfolding in Westminster and Brussels mean that, at the time of writing, nobody really knows what will happen. Which, for multinational car firms with tight production chains that cross the UK/EU border repeatedly, is a massive dose of wholly unwelcome uncertainty in an already turbulent market. And multinational car firms hate uncertainty. When/if Britain leaves, relations between the two will be governed by a withdrawal agreement – if the UK parliament approves it in a vote, which may or may not take place mid-January. Should that not happen, a new deal may be agreed, or Britain will leave without one. Or delay Brexit. Or stage a second referendum. Crystal clear so far, right? If Britain leaves with a withdrawal agreement, things should continue pretty much as they are until 31 December 2020, by which point a full trade deal will or won’t have been agreed. If Britain leaves without a deal, cross-border relations might be covered by World Trade Organization rules or some other yet-to-be-determined system (rock paper scissors, anyone?). And that may or may not cause huge disruption to manufacturing industries – including the car industry – with short-timeline production chains that rely on tariff- and delay-free movement across the border. It’s not just industry that could be affected: you might need an International Driving Permit to drive in the EU, have to sort different car insurance, or likely need a visa waiver to enter European countries. Simple, right? Well, no. Frankly, trying to predict Brexit is an impossible task – which is exactly the problem for those people and firms whose livelihoods could depend on how and when it happens. What we can predict is that, whatever form Brexit takes, it will have a major impact on the British car industry. Probably. James Attwood UK plants will be under threat Closely linked to Brexit – will 2019 be the year that a major car plant shuts in the UK? There are several possible candidates, but history suggests any closure plan will develop over a couple of years and is likely to be leaked well in advance – given the cataclysmic effect on jobs, the supply chain and Westminster politics. So we wouldn’t expect the doors to be shuttered on any major plant in 2019, but as the detail of the UK’s future trade agreement is negotiated from April (probably…), any increase in the PR volume around a plant closure is noise we really don’t want to hear this year. Julian Rendell The on/off trade war between the US and China and the US and the EU is already influencing global car production. For example, Geely-owned Volvo has announced lower volumes of exports to China of the S60 from a new US plant in Charleston as a response to sales dragged down by higher import duties. As a result, a question hangs over US investment for the XC90, with sales in China under threat. Meanwhile, BMW is increasing production in China of the X3, a model that previously was globally sourced from South Carolina. Others – like Ford, which exports the Mustang to China – are remaining cagey about their response to the tariff war. In the US, this has seen duty increase to 25% to match China, while the Asian country has responded by hiking its duty to 40%. This tit-for-tat might actually help European car makers because China, to spite the US, reduced tariffs on cars made everywhere outside the US to 15%. We can expect more upping-and-downing of tariffs during 2019 as the two superpowers manoeuvre around each other with the Trump administration even thinking about detonating its own 40% tariff on Chinese imports. Julian Rendell New diesels will come back Expect the harsh attitude from new car buyers towards diesel to soften once the penny drops that, under the new WLTP emissions regulations, the latest diesels produce cleaner real-world exhaust emissions than older petrol cars. Po[CENSORED]r medium and large SUVs rely on frugal diesel engines to remain viable from the point of view of fuel costs and also CO2 emissions. Diesels generally will always be more economical than petrol cars or petrol hybrids for motorway users. Buyers who have switched away from diesel may find the real-world economy too compelling to not want to return to it. Jesse Crosse

The head of Venezuela's opposition-controlled parliament was briefly detained days after saying he was ready to assume the country's presidency. Juan Guaidó was travelling to a rally when intelligence agents intercepted his car north of the capital, Caracas. The agents have been sacked over the "irregular procedure", part of a "media show" to benefit the opposition, the information minister says. President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a second six-year term on Thursday. The opposition calls him illegitimate and Mr Guaidó said on Friday he was ready to assume the Venezuelan presidency on an interim basis. His wife, Fabiana Rosales, and daughter were travelling with him to a political rally in the coastal town of Caraballedas, opposition members said. Ms Rosales announced her husband's detention on Twitter and video was posted on social media not long afterwards apparently showing the moment it happened. He was released about an hour later. The exact circumstances surrounding Sunday's events are still unclear, BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson reports. But the arrest seems to be designed to send a message to those who oppose Mr Maduro, our correspondent adds. What has the reaction been? Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez said rogue agents of the intelligence agency, Sebin, had acted unilaterally. Later, Mr Guaidó told supporters at a rally: "I want to send a message to Miraflores [the presidential palace] - the game has changed... Here we are! We are not afraid!" He said Mr Rodríguez's comments were a sign that the government had lost control of its own security forces. Two journalists who were covering the case - Beatriz Adrián, from Colombia's Caracol television, and Osmary Hernández, who works for CNN's Spanish language channel - were also briefly detained. What's happening in Venezuela? Earlier this month, Mr Guaidó became the speaker of the National Assembly, which has been stripped of its powers since Mr Maduro's ruling Socialist Party lost control of it in 2016. Mr Maduro dismissed his comments as a "show". His re-election in May last year was marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging. Since taking office Mr Maduro has been condemned at home and abroad for alleged human rights abuses and for his handling of the economy, which is in a state of near-collapse. Venezuela is one of the world's largest oil producers but its overreliance on the product, which accounts for about 95% of its export earnings, left the country vulnerable when prices dropped in 2014. As a result, the cost of imported goods like food and medicine has risen, and currency inflation has skyrocketed. The government is also increasingly struggling to get credit after it defaulted on some of its government bonds. In response, the government has printed more money, devaluing the currency further. Mr Maduro was first elected in 2013, succeeding Hugo Chávez who died of cancer after governing for 14 years.

Another Fiesta already, you ask? Well yes, this is the best-selling car in the UK by a long shot (as of October the Fiesta racked up 79,416 sales to the second-placed Volkswagen Golf’s 52,162) and there are many versions that each slot into their own niche. Of course there wasn’t going to be a Fiesta-shaped hole in the Autocar fleet for long. Anyway, this particular one’s worthy of your attention because it’s the top dog, the halo model. Out of all the Fiestas, this is the one that has the best potential to get people like us wandering into a dealership asking for a brochure and test drive, even if we don’t really need a new car right now. The latest arrival on our fleet is a fully-fledged Fiesta ST. Yippee. We won’t need to delve into too much detail to explain why we’re so excited because the ST has already proved itself as brilliantly fun to drive. You might recall it won our Junior Handling Day contest in the summer, which is impressive for a car that is neither the most potent nor most focused in its class. Anyone can jump into an ST and have a giggle, which is what it’s all about really, isn’t it? Find an Autocar car review Driven this week Ford Fiesta ST 2019 long-term review - hero front 12 JANUARY 2019 FIRST DRIVE Ford Fiesta ST 2019 long-term review The latest hot supermini from the blue oval joins our fleet - is it the best... Citroen Berlingo 2018 road test review - hero front 11 JANUARY 2019 CAR REVIEW Citroen Berlingo Citroen's boxy, slightly quirky van-based car returns to top form in... BMW 7 Series 740Ld long-term review hero front 11 JANUARY 2019 FIRST DRIVE BMW 7 Series 740Ld long-term review Does this 7 Series have that all-important sense of occasion its predecessors... Well, no, not really. It’s only part of the puzzle. Hot hatches have to be hot – and the ST is that – but they also have to be hatches. This means they arguably have the hardest job on the market: to be extremely practical, easy to drive and comfortable enough for daily use, while also being quick, playful and, hopefully, a bit silly. Oh, and they must remain affordable and cheap to run. The pressure’s even higher if your predecessor was the best hatch of its class, or if you rivals are supremely talented. Unfortunately for our ST, that is exactly its case. The previous ST, particularly the ST200 run-out variant, was much-loved and still stands as one of the most enthralling front-wheel drive cars. It faced a tough bunch of rivals but the new car arguably has it even harder, because today there’s a much better Volkswagen Polo GTI, the Mini Cooper S has received a list of improvements to enhance its appeal further and there’s a newcomer in the Toyota Yaris GRMN that is bloody good fun. Our Fiesta ST must keep us on side over the coming months as winter sets in, while also resisting the pressure from its fellow sporty hatchbacks and anything else that crops up between now and spring. No doubt a key topic for investigation will be the ST’s use of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine. That’s about 100cc and a cylinder down on the old car’s 1.6, which you might think will lead to a higher stressed engine more dependant on the boost provided by its turbocharger. Certainly that’s been the case with plenty of other downsized engines in recent years, but the ST has cylinder deactivation technology up its sleeve. Impressively, it means it can run on just two cylinders in low-load situations, which might help explain the claims for 47.1mpg combined and 55.4mpg extra urban. Those are numbers never before achieved by a hot Fiesta; in fact, our experiences of the previous generation left both figures at least 10mpg lower. This tester’s wallet hopes the claimed figures are accurate. As a top-of-the-range ST-3, our car comes loaded with kit. As standard it gets 18in five-spoke wheels with a two-tone machined finish, red brake calibers and rear privacy glass, as well as part-leather Recaro sports seats, a rear view camera and keyless entry. There’s also an 8.0in touchscreen with Sync3 infotainment, including Apple Carplay/Android Auto. But the key features that should really set our car apart are the options of the ST Performance Pack (£850), which includes a Quaife limited-slip differential, as well as full LED headlights (£600) and a B&O Play premium audio system (£350), complete with a sub woofer in place of the spare wheel. These features have potential to substantially enhance fun, usability and in-car entertainment. They also help to push our car’s on the road price up to £24,515, almost £3000 more than the standard ST-3 figure. The venue for the handover of our ST was none other than the Service Park of Wales Rally GB, where M-Sport fielded its Fiesta World Rally Championship cars. It was hard to not get revved up when the Ford keys were handed over as we stood beside five-time WRC champ Sébastien Ogier’s Fiesta. Okay, so our car lacked the big wing and protruding aerodynamic bodywork, but it still managed to catch the gaze of several M-Sport mechanics who you might imagine to be bored of the Fiesta form. It seemed they were all eager to see the ST’s top-spec interior and hear the burble from its exhaust note in its naughtiest Race mode. Some even jested that they were thinking of getting one. Does this motorsport link go deeper than the matching bodywork applied to the road ST and its WRC counterpart? Probably not. For some it might help to make the ST experience more exciting, but in truth almost all people interested in a hot Fiesta are unlikely to be drawn over by the model’s involvement in the WRC. Exactly what does attract – or deter – people to Fiesta ST ownership is what we’ll be investigating over the coming months. There’s a tremendous amount to like, but not the drive modes. They complicate what should be simple. The noise is contrived, the steering given unwanted additional weight and the throttle made too snatchy. When I can pinch the ST from Sam, it stays in Normal – and it’s great.