TAMARA SIDDIQUI: 15 things that will restore your faith in 2016

The number of tigers in the wild rose for the first time in a century this year, as reported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

This is proved by the videos of animals and babies becoming friends that go viral and our nationwide blubbing at programmes like the Pride of Britain Awards and ITV’s new show, This Time Next Year.

Many have said what an awful year 2016 has been so far. We’ve had the death of many icons – Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Prince – to name a few; terrorist attacks; humanitarian crises, and, depending on your views, Brexit and, erm, Donald Trump becoming US president-elect.

To top it all, in Portsmouth there’s been a surge in violent crime.

So, whatever you perceive to be bad in the world, let’s focus on things we can all agree are good.

Here are a few from 2016 to remind you it hasn’t been completely awful.

• Astronaut Tim Peake, who grew up in Westbourne, near Emsworth, returned home after a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station. He provided us with a stunning view of the south coast, including Portsmouth, from space.

• The World Wildlife Fund reported that, for the first time in 100 years, tiger numbers had risen (to 3,890).

• Inquests concluded the 96 victims who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster WERE unlawfully killed. Liverpool fans were finally exonerated after a 27-year campaign.

• Andy Murray won Wimbledon for the second time following his first win in 2013, and has just become world number one.

• In India, 800,000 volunteers planted nearly 50 million trees in 24 hours.

• The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday.

• The first round-the-world solar-powered flight was completed after the Solar Impulse aircraft touched down in Abu Dhabi.

• After almost five years, NASA’s Juno spacecraft entered the orbit of the largest planet in our solar system – Jupiter.

• Pakistan adopted a new law to tackle honour killings.

• The £88m raised for motor neurone disease by the ice-bucket challenge led to an ALS research breakthrough.

• Nine tonnes of food for malnourished children and abandoned animals was collected at a Metallica concert.

• Branches of Toys R Us across the UK held a special autism-friendly hour.

• Leicester City beat the 5000-1 odds to become the Premier League champions.

• Portugal ran on renewable energy alone for four days.

• More than 800 Boko Haram hostages were rescued.

Not all bad, is it?

• Twenty-four-year-old Tamara Siddiqui is a journalist at The News. Read her views on life as a modern woman in an ever-changing world every week.