Welcome to the Good News Roundup for January 19, 2026
New Barbie has been released recognising autism
The maker behind Barbie has added another doll to its’ vast collection, with the latest Barbie reflecting how people with autism may experience the world.
Mattel says the Barbie was developed over 18 months with the guidance of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, with unique body and eye features, as well as accessories and sensory-sensitive fashion that people with autism may be able to relate to.
Read the full media release here.
Giant Panda moves off ‘endangered’ list
In some good news for the Giant Panda, the iconic black and white bears are officially no longer listed as ‘endangered’, with numbers steadily increasing thanks to ongoing conservation efforts.
The update from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is a welcome one – however there’s still plenty of work to be done to restore the population, with less than 2000 Giant Pandas in the wild, and the species still classified as ‘vulnerable’.
Read more about efforts to protect the Giant Panda here.
12yo recognised for his quick-thinking actions after his Mum suffered a medical episode while driving
12-year-old UK boy Zac Howells has been awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation for his heroic and quick-thinking actions, after he managed to avoid a potential tragedy when his Mum suffered a medical episode while driving.
The incident happened in December – when Nicola Howell lost consciousness while behind the wheel and with her foot on the accelerator.
Zac managed to wake his Mum, grab the steering wheel to guide the car onto the verge to slow it down, eventually turning off the engine and calling emergency responders.
The pair avoided injury, and now Zac’s actions have been rightly recognised – which you can read more about here.
Meet the Australian gentleman restoring history – one pillar box at a time
On Australia’s east-coast, a 76-year-old man is on a quest to revisit history and bring some vibrancy back to the streets – through his painstaking restoration of mail pillar boxes.
What began as an attempt to clean off some graffiti from a pillar box has become a two-year labour of love for Mick Slocum, who has forgone modern tools to strip back the now disused boxes and restore them to their former glory.
With the support of Australia Post, Mr Slocum has already restored around 70 boxes in Melbourne and regional Victoria, and says he has about 100 more to go.
Read this heartwarming story here.
