Thumbs up to…Tom Cruise, at the age of 63, winning an honorary Oscar Award and being able to hold it at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood stage at the 16th annual Governors Awards on Nov. 16. Cruise won an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, which recognized his lifetime of work and contributions to filmmaking. In the past, Cruise was nominated four times for competitive Oscars but never actually won. He was nominated in 1990, 1997, 2000 and 2023. Although this was only an honorary Oscar, 2025 was finally his year to be recognized. He was one of three nominees receiving that award.
Thumbs up to…The 2000s beloved Christmas live-action film, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Theaters are holding a rerelease of the film, starring Jim Carrey, on Dec. 12, and have released a new 4K Ultra HD and Steelbook edition on Nov. 11. There is even a new trailer that has been giving the audiences sneak peeks at the return of the Grinch to the big screen. It is only for a limited time and will be shown in limited theaters. This film has won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, with nominations of Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Thumbs up to…Scientists at UCLA for creating a treatment that is able to track and destroy cancer cells, even when it has made its way to other organs in the human body. The scientists put the treatment to a test using a mouse study, where they were able to see that it was able to relax the cancer growth, even against a solid tumor. During a press release, a post-doctoral scholar at UCLA named Dr. Yanruide Li stated that the cancer therapy they created has the ability to hit the cancer from different sides simultaneously, “even when the cancer tries to evade one attack pathway by changing its molecular signature.”
Thumbs down to…The three cyclones that have hit Southeast Asia in the past week. These huge storms have led to almost 1,350 people dead with many more still missing. Sri Lanka was hit by Cyclone Ditwah on Nov. 28, and now the cyclone is expected to be on its way to India. Indonesia was also very recently hit by Cyclone Senyar, and that cyclone is making its way towards Malaysia. These cyclones have led to multiple damaged homes, landslides and widespread floods. The floods in Sri Lanka have affected more than a million people, with 15,000 homes destroyed. On Nov. 25, the death toll in Sri Lanka rose to 410 people due to these harsh weathers
Thumbs down to…Airstrikes being launched across the border of Thailand and Cambodia. Both sides of the border are accusing each other of breaking a truce they both committed to earlier this year. Their truce has been on thin ice since early November because of Thai troops being injured by landmines, which caused Thailand to suspend the truce. On Dec.7, both begin fighting while still accusing the other of starting it first. Thailand officials stated that Cambodia fired first and injured two soldiers in the process, and Thailand's response to the Cambodians fire was to also shoot fire that lasted 20 minutes. On the other hand, Cambodia stated that Thailand was the one to fire first and that they did not respond.
Thumbs down to…The death of Fernando Nunez, a Peruvian journalist, who was shot and killed on Dec 6. The killing took place in the Guadalupe area. Nunez was a reporter for digital outlet Kamila TV and was on his way home on his motorcycle with his brother after completing an assignment when he was killed by hitmen. He died, and his brother was injured. Nunez makes the third journalist to be assassinated in Peru this year. Investigators were suggested by Peru’s National Association of Journalists to take Nunez’s journalism work as a motive for being assassinated.