Bush rescue: A backpacker from Germany was rescued after spending nearly two weeks lost in the remote wilderness of Western Australia. Her van got stuck on an isolated track and after leaving it, she lost her bearings and couldn't find her way back. With little to eat and only rainwater to drink, she endured cold nights and harsh, unforgiving terrain while trying to reach help. Eventually, a local driver spotted her walking nearby and brought her to safety before she was flown to a hospital for care. Authorities called her recovery extraordinary given the extreme conditions. The ordeal has renewed attention on the dangers of the Outback and the need to remain with a vehicle if stranded.

Painted heritage: In the southern hills of Chios in Greece, the village of Pyrgi draws visitors with its maze of homes covered in bold black-and-white designs. Each wall is decorated through xysta, an old plaster-carving technique where layers of lime are scraped away to form geometric motifs. The method may have roots in both Genoese and Ottoman influences, blending centuries of history into a single art form. Once built as a fortified settlement to guard the island's valuable mastic trade, Pyrgi's compact streets and stone towers still reflect its defensive past. Only a few artisans now keep the xysta tradition alive, working carefully to preserve this symbol of community pride and island history.

Walking giants: Researchers believe they now understand how the famous stones were moved into place on Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island. Using 3D models, field trials, and physics-based simulations, scientists from Binghamton University and the University of Arizona found that the statues' forward-leaning shape and curved bases allowed them to rock side to side as they advanced. In experiments, a small group walked a full-scale replica using ropes, supporting long-standing local traditions about how the moai were transported. The study suggests the islanders engineered both the statues and roads for this motion, revealing a resourceful approach to one of archaeology's oldest mysteries.

Tiny fighter: In Ankeny, Iowa USA a baby born 133 days early and recognised as the world's most premature, defied every prediction to survive after birth. Arriving far sooner than expected, he weighed less than a can of soda and required immediate intensive care. Doctors used advanced equipment and careful monitoring to support his heart and lungs, and his parents spent long months beside him in the hospital. Over time, the baby's condition improved enough for him to go home after a lengthy recovery. His story reminds families and doctors everywhere that medical care and persistence can help even the most fragile lives survive and grow.

A good half of the art of living is resilience. ~ Alain de Botton

Health is the first muse, and sleep is the condition to produce it. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Free Courses Literacy and numeracy, digital literacy, Kiwi English, Learner Licence and more. For more information contact Literacy Christchurch, phone or text 022 6970478 or email info@literacychristchurch.org.nz

Greater Hornby Residents Association. Meetings are held in the last Sunday of every month in the Hornby Rugby Clubrooms, Denton Park at 2pm. All welcome.

Volunteers required by the Down by the Liffey Gallery, Lincoln for monthly 3 hour shifts. Contact 3252832 for further details.

My Walking Group A friendly group of singles aged 45+ who have fun & friendship by walking and biking. 03 323 6232

Prebbleton Craft Group Craft Day, Every second Thursday 7-9pm, Prebbleton Cottage, Cnr Blakes & Springs Road, join us to create a variety of craft projects. 0212156164

Free Curtain Bank, CEA provides free, recycled curtains (sewn to fit) for any household in need. Call 0800 GET WARM, or visit www.cea.co.nz

Spark Jump provides low-cost internet to homes with children under 18 but no broadband connection. No credit checks or contracts. Contact Addington.net on 962 7244 or book online at steppingup.nz

Free notices for not for profits grace@coffeenews.co.nz

1. To win this pen-and-paper game, a player must fill three squares in a row.

2. What is the longest river in Europe?

3. Gustav _____ built his 305-metre tower in Paris for the 1889 World's Fair.

4. Neither a borrower nor lender be appears in which play?

5. The trade winds generally travel in this direction.

Mercury mystery: Unlike most metals that stay solid until heated, mercury is liquid even at room temperature. Scientists traced this unusual trait to its unique electron structure, giving the element its puzzling behaviour.

Parrot vandals: High in the mountains of New Zealand lives the Kea, a parrot quite unlike others. Known for their sharp minds and bold nature, these birds often rip pieces off parked cars, turning ordinary objects into their playground.

Sneeze speed: A sneeze can blast out of your body at roughly 160 km/h. That burst of air carries countless tiny particles, which is why sneezing into a tissue or elbow helps keep others safe.

Story struggle: Before becoming a famous children's author, Dr. Seuss nearly gave up on his first book after 27 rejections. Then a lucky meeting with a friend in publishing finally brought to print And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Pasta legacy: USA president Thomas Jefferson came back from Europe with a pasta press, eager to enjoy the dish at home. But it was his enslaved chef James Hemings who refined the recipe, making mac and cheese a true American favourite.

How is a heart like a musician? They both have a beat.

There was no reason why my glasses fogged up. I was mystified!

My doctor said jogging can add years to my life. He's right. I feel 10 years older already.

Actor: Have you seen me on TV? Fan : On and off. Actor: How did you like me? Fan: Off.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

1. Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts and Crosses 2. Volga 3. Eiffel 4. Hamlet 5. East to west