The Latest Breaking News from The Independent UK

THE COUNTDOWN: From the improbable phenomenon ‘Baby Reindeer’ to the comfort of ‘Gogglebox’ and the smart, sexy and slick ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’, here are the top 20 releases from the past 12 months, selected by The Independent’s TV critic Nick Hilton

IN FOCUS: As the trend of taping one’s lips closed at night goes viral, Inga Parkel speaks to experts about whether the practice actually has any aesthetic benefits – or if it’s yet another online sensation best to brush off

STATE OF THE ARTS: Throughout his first stint in office, the US entertainment industry presented a united front in vocal opposition to the controversial president. The signs suggest he could be in for an easier ride this time around, writes Louis Chilton

IN FOCUS: December is a time for making merry, but if you are female, a night out can often also be fraught with fear. Olivia Petter investigates why so many women continue to feel frightened when out after dark, and asks whether government awareness campaigns and some of the language…

CAR REVIEW: It manages to be a ‘smart car’ without being wilfully avant garde, writes Sean O’Grady. There are few vehicles out there to rival it for daintiness, but it still begs to be thrashed like a Tory frontbencher at PMQs

The country has braced for the storm’s arrival with weather warnings and flood alerts in place.

Crawley fell for a rapid 94 as England were bowled out for 249, having dismissed a Prime Minister’s XI for 136 in New Zealand

Travel, especially during the holiday season, can be stressful

Election reform advocates had hoped for a big year at the ballot box

Extreme weather is making power outages longer and more frequent across the U.S. People with health conditions who depend on medical devices powered by electricity are particularly vulnerable

President-elect announced nominations to lead several departments and agencies as he continues to staff his next administration