Mākereti Papakura, a trailblazing Māori scholar, made history in 1873 by becoming the first Māori woman to enroll at the University of Oxford. Born in New Zealand that same year, Papakura’s academic pursuits were groundbreaking for her time. Her thesis, "Maori Customs and Superstitions," offered a unique female perspective on the customs of her tribe.
Tragically, Papakura passed away in 1930 just weeks before she was set to present her thesis. However, the University of Oxford has recognized her contributions to indigenous studies by awarding her a posthumous degree.
News Around Europe
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Cycling-Friendly Cities: Paris has topped a European ranking of cycling-friendly cities for children, ahead of Amsterdam and Copenhagen, according to research by Clean Cities Campaign. The study evaluated cycling infrastructure across 36 European cities using criteria such as:
- Segregated bike lanes
- Low road speeds
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Transportation Investment in London: A major transportation investment is underway in London, with plans unveiled by Transport Secretary Mark Harper aiming to spend £2 billion improving transport links between boroughs. Critics warn that the scheme may not go far enough.
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Celebrity News: Tom Cruise received a seven-and-a-half minute standing ovation when he appeared on screen one final time as Ethan Hunt at the Cannes Film Festival screening last night.
Advances in Medical Research
Advances in medical research offer hope for combating tuberculosis (TB). Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance reports high hopes for the world’s first TB vaccine after clinical trial testing reached recruitment targets sooner than expected, thanks to volunteers’ enthusiasm in areas hardest hit by tuberculosis. Researchers believe the jab could offer around a 50% chance of preventing patients from developing active disease compared to existing vaccines, which primarily protect babies and young children.
The only thing holding back the launch now is the need for further analysis to confirm findings. Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley stated, “I think we’re very hopeful [about] this vaccine… We’ll see whether these results hold up through additional analyses.”
James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured stunning images showing:
- Extended stellar haloes surrounding distant galaxies
- Vast cosmic voids
- Gravitational lensing effects
- A prominent galaxy cluster containing stars dating back nearly ten billion years
These discoveries continue to expand our understanding of the universe.
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