Latest news with #Rancho


NDTV
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Lucknow School Takes Students To Japan For Rs 3.5 Lakh, Internet Calls It "Good Initiative"
A school in Lucknow is making headlines for giving its students real-world exposure by taking them on a trip to Japan. A video going viral online shows young students from City Montessori School (CMS) interacting with an Indian content creator. The clip captures the Indian man's surprise when he asks students, "Is there now a school in Lucknow that is taking kids to Japan?" The children reply, saying that they were from Class 5, leaving the man even more surprised. The man then says, "Come closer to the camera and say that again. The school is actually bringing kids to Japan!" One of the students then casually tells the man that their school is also planning a trip to Germany or Vietnam, leaving the man even more stunned. "In our time, the school would only take us to the India Gate. That's it," the content creator says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rancho (@ranchhod_jr07) He then asks the students how much the trip costs. The kids reply saying, "Rs 3.5 lakh per child". "And how many days is this trip?" the man asks. "10 days," they reply. When asked how many students were part of the trip, they said, "64 students." The man then interacts with a Class 11 student. "So it is not just Class 5, anyone who could afford could come?" he asks. The student replies, "Yes". At the end of the clip, the content creator shares his perspective with viewers. "It is nice to see children coming from India and exploring a new country. It gives them a lot of exposure. I understand education is expensive, but those who can afford it, it is great that they are sending their children. These travel experiences help them grow and become more mature and responsible," he says. Since being shared, the clip has accumulated more than 3.6 million views. Social media had mixed reactions. "CMS Lucknow is World's biggest school ! Yes, You heard it right. World's biggest," wrote one user. "Moral of the story - agar paisa ho to sb kuch tmhara (If you have money, everything is yours)" said another. "We were offered an Egypt trip too when I was in CMS for a whopping 2.5 lakhs for a week," shared a third user. "Very good initiative, I think student jab different different education system and culture se interact Krnge to wo techs, inventions ke bare early age se hi soch payenge," commented a fourth user.

Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Straits Times
Boy, 13, started California wildfire with illegal fireworks, police say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Around 200 firefighters, two planes, five helicopters and drones were deployed to battle the blaze. A 13-year-old boy was arrested this week, accused of setting off illegal fireworks that sparked a wildfire in Laguna Beach, California, that burned nearly 2ha and led to evacuations and power outages, authorities said. The blaze, called the Rancho fire, started just after 2pm local time (5am Singapore time) on July 7 , as flames burned along a hillside, the Laguna Beach Police Department said in a statement. As the fire spread to 1.9ha , an evacuation order was issued for homes on four streets, and community centres were opened as shelters for displaced residents, officials said. By 5pm on July 7 , the mayor had told residents in a video posted on Facebook that officials already suspected that the fire had been started by fireworks. Police said on July 8 that witnesses had reported seeing a minor who was 'possibly involved in setting off fireworks'. Two minors were detained for questioning but were released after they were found to have been witnesses, police said. Investigators later obtained video evidence that they said showed another minor 'lighting a firework and fleeing the scene '. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore Academic paper by NUS researchers withdrawn from peer review after hidden AI prompt found Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's conviction of doctor who gave patients unapproved hormones Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand for suspected drug trafficking and handed over to CNB World Trump issues tariff notices to 7 minor trading partners, hits Brazil with 50% tariff Business SGX securities turnover up 23% in June, bringing financial year's gain to 28% They identified the suspect as a 13-year-old boy and obtained a warrant for his arrest, police said. The teenager was arrested on suspicion of felony reckless burning of forest land, police said. Because of 'the absence of any injuries or immediate threat to structures', he was processed at police headquarters before being released to his parents. The case will be submitted to the Orange County district attorney's office for review and the possible filing of criminal charges, police said. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office said California welfare law prevented her from discussing the case. Mr Niko King, the Laguna Beach fire chief, said that around 200 firefighters, two planes, five helicopters and drones were deployed to battle the blaze, as officials used infrared scans to monitor its progress and containment efforts. The evacuation order was lifted just after 7.30pm on July 8 , city officials said. The fire was fully contained by 8am on July 9 , and the roads that had been closed reopened to traffic. NYTIMES


Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Illegal fireworks at the hands of teen caused Rancho fire, invesitgators believe. Could embers reignite as temps rise?
Good morning. It's Wednesday, July 9. I'm Carol Cormaci, bringing you this week's TimesOC newsletter with a look at some of the latest local news and events from around the county. It's hard to believe since the images are still so clear in my mind, but it's been six months since January's devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County that took the lives of 30 people. Investigations continue into exact causes of both the Palisades and Eaton fires, but in the case of the former there was reportedly some evidence it may have been caused when a New Year's Eve fire dubbed the Lachman fire, possibly started by fireworks and thought to have been extinguished, was rekindled during the fierce winds that blasted through the Southland the first week of 2025. So it's not stretch to imagine today how Laguna Beach residents might be eyeing somewhat nervously the brush-covered terrain on their hillsides where a blaze dubbed the Rancho fire broke out just after 2 p.m. Monday near Rancho Laguna Road and Morningside Drive. Evacuation orders were swiftly issued along La Mirada Street, Katella Street, Summit Drive and Baja Street. Arch Beach Heights also received an evacuation warning. By nightfall, fire officials believed the blaze was well enough under control that those orders had been lifted. Our photographer, Don Leach, who was dispatched to document the fire with photos for our paper, told me in one of our phone calls Monday that it looked to him as though firefighters were doing a great job keeping the fire from getting out of hand. He spoke with some awe in his voice of the amount of fire retardant that was being dropped from Cal Fire planes. The Rancho fire grew to over 4 acres and, as of yesterday morning, was at 50% containment. The cause? A youth allegedly started it by using illegal fireworks. 'Laguna Beach police detectives took a 13-year-old boy into custody on suspicion of committing felony reckless burning of forest land,' the Daily Pilot reported. 'Video evidence was obtained showing an individual igniting a firework and fleeing the scene, police said.' Because there were no injuries and no immediate threat to structures, Orange County Juvenile Hall didn't accept the 13-year-old and he was released to the custody of his parents. Temps are expected to reach into the low 80s today and tomorrow in Laguna Beach, which could further dry vegetation on those picturesque hillsides and increase fire danger outside of the acreage already scorched by Monday's conflagration. But, provided the Rancho fire is completely extinguished soon and unexpected gusts of wind do not stir any hidden, lingering embers, Laguna Beach, which has been proactive in its fire mitigation plans may escape almost entirely unharmed this time around. If only Pacific Palisades could have been so lucky. • Heidi Plummer, vice president of the Orange County Women Lawyers Assn. and co-founder of the Newport Beach Bock & Plummer firm, is the woman I mentioned in an earlier newsletter who said she was walking in a park June 14 to clear her head following the funeral of a loved one when she was swept up in an ICE raid. My colleague Gabriel San Román interviewed Plummer and her attorney, Jesse Rivera, for this story published Sunday in the Daily Pilot/TimesOC. Rivera's description of the incident: 'Plummer, while peaceably walking in Centennial Park, was stopped, detained, handcuffed, arrested and transported to a federal facility in Santa Ana by individuals dressed in black military fatigues with the identification of ICE on their clothing. The vehicles were unmarked.' An ICE spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, told San Román via email that 'there is no record backing her claims.' • ICE activities may have been the reason behind a 25% dip in attendance this year at the annual Fish Fry held in Costa Mesa's Lions Park the last weekend in June. 'ICE was two blocks away at 19th and Newport, and we didn't know what they were gearing up for, but we were on the lookout,' Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions President Cabot Harvey told the Daily Pilot. 'I spoke to several Latino families who told me the same thing — people were just too afraid to come.' • Area residents who want to preserve the Newport Beach Golf Course as is rather than allow a developer to go forward with a proposed surf lagoon project in the middle of it got together last Thursday for a rally. Benny Hallock, the chairman of the group Save Newport Beach Golf Course, told the Daily Pilot thousands of signatures have been collected in support of saving the popular 18-hole, 59-par executive course at 3100 Irvine Ave. But the Snug Harbor Surf Park project is continues to work its way through the approval stages, with public hearings expected in August and September. • Following up on a tip from a concerned member of the public, officers with Orange County Animal Control rescued at least 120 cats from a residence in the 2600 block of Balfour Avenue in Fullerton, according to this City News Service report. An Animal Control spokesperson said the cats didn't appear to have been mistreated, but that there were just too many of them in the home. Several were ill with some form of a contagious disease and will be treated, then put up for adoption. • Hundreds of people spending their Fourth of July holiday at Orange County beaches had to be rescued by lifeguards after they were caught up in monster rip currents. At Newport Beach, the tally of rescues hit 350 people Friday; at Huntington Beach the number reported the same day was pegged at 152. • Charges were pending as of Monday against a Buena Park homeowner who allegedly operated an illegal Fourth of July fireworks display that misfired at 9:45 p.m. Friday, fatally injuring 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim, City News Service reported. • In the run-up to Independence Day, Costa Mesa police ran an operation that led to three arrests and the seizure of 1,339 pounds of illegal fireworks, drugs and a gun, the Daily Pilot reported. Suspects involved in the busts were detained for attempting to sell illegal fireworks online to officers who posed as customers and met the would-be sellers at locations around town. • A 21-year-old man from Orange, Nathan Ethan Avina, was arrested Sunday morning after he allegedly fatally struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Atlanta Avenue and Delaware Street in Huntington Beach at about 12:45 am. Sunday. Due to suspected impairment, police arrested Avina at the scene. • Brian Campbell, who was born in Newport Beach and grew up in Irvine, earned his second PGA Tour victory and just over $1.5 million Sunday in a sudden-death playoff at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. This week the 32-year-old is in Scotland, where the Genesis Scottish Open takes place tomorrow through Monday. • Benjamin Royer, a reporting intern for The Times, dives into a look at how well Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery is faring just three weeks into his current role. In his story, Royer also examines the managerial strategies of Montgomery, as compared to those of Ron Washington, who is out on medical leave from the top job. • One-time Angel Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, died Friday in Portugal, where he was treated for a form of stomach cancer, the team announced Saturday. He was 44. • Seal Beach resident Pat Pattison recently learned one of the 30-minute episodes of his local TV show, 'Pat Pattison's Best of California,' has been nominated for a regional Emmy award. The show airs on Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m. on MeTV station KAZA-TV Los Angeles. The nominated episode is 'Our World War II: California, Part 1,' which aired last November, according to this Daily Pilot feature story. • Fans of adult romance novels have a new Orange County bookstore that caters especially to them, the Daily Pilot reports, as Mystic Box Bookshop opened in downtown Huntington Beach on June 14. The business is operated by Kate Benito and her husband, Phil, who first established an online presence offering a bimonthly subscription service, where two hardcover books advertised as dark, mafia or forbidden are mailed out to subscribers. Their brick-and-mortar location is at 221 Main St., Huntington Beach and is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. • The Times reports Disneyland's Haunted Mansion will temporarily close beginning Aug. 11 so the ride can undergo its annual transformation into Haunted Mansion Holiday in time for the Halloween season, a makeover inspired by 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' • The Anaheim Packing District is hosting its annual World Taste event featuring food samples from about 20 different vendors on from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. Anaheim Packing District at 440 S. Anaheim Blvd. For tickets and additional info, visit • Jazz saxophonist Eric Marienthal presents the Eric Marienthal and Friends concert to benefit the High Hopes Head Injury Program at 6 p.m. this Sunday, July 13. This year's featured guest is Boney James and the event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road. VIP tickets are $175; general tickets are $75 and can be purchased here. • For the whole family: Phantom Projects Theatre will present its second annual summer all-youth musical, Seussical, Jr., from July 11 to 27. The production, featuring nearly 70 students between the ages of 8 and 18 from Los Angeles and Orange counties, is offered to the participating kids without charging any fees, tuition, or costume charges. Tickets to the musical can be purchased by calling (714) 690-2900 or visiting the Phantom Projects Theatre website. Until next week,Carol We appreciate your help in making this the best newsletter it can be. Please send news tips, your memory of life in O.C. (photos welcome!) or comments to


Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Aamir Khan reveals people thought his career was over after gaining weight for Dangal: ‘He cannot make a comeback now'
Famously known as 'Mr Perfectionist', Aamir Khan has often made headlines for his unique choice of films and his dedication to each of his roles. Despite his stellar career, Aamir has never placed much value on formal education. A college dropout himself, Aamir Khan recently said he has always been like Rancho from 3 Idiots. Speaking to Raj Shamani, Aamir Khan recalled his college days and said, 'I was always Rancho type who didn't care about certificates. I skipped formal education.' He said it was his real life choices and thinking process that made Rajkumar Hirani cast him as Rancho. 'One of the biggest reasons why Raju (Hirani) wanted me in the film is because of my thinking. That is my belief as well. That is who I am.' All the films that brought him immense fame are the ones he took big risks with. Be it Lagaan, which eventually went to the Oscars or Dangal, which broke all box office records, these are the projects that nobody believed in but Aamir Khan followed his instincts. ALSO READ | Thug Life controversy explained: From Kamal Haasan's controversial remark on Kannada language to petition in Karnataka high court He did, 'I also did Lagaan going by instincts. It was a time when everybody thought I was a fool to do it. They thought who will watch a film based on cricket. Even when I took up Rang De Basanti, it was the fifth remake of Bhagat Singh and Azad in that one and half year. It was extremely impractical to take up a subject made so often. Taare Zameen Par and Dangal, all of these projects were my impractical decisions. When I did Dangal, and gained weight for the same, I remember anybody who met me from the industry used to give me weird reactions. They would say, 'Aamir Khan gaya, he cannot make a comeback.' Their reactions used to be so funny. I have taken risks. All these decisions maine pagalpan mein li hai and I have been lucky.' Aamir Khan is currently gearing up for the release of Sitaare Zameen Par on June 20.


Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'3 idiots' fame Ladakh school gets CBSE affiliation over two decades after its inception, ET Education
Advt Advt By , PTI New Delhi, Druk Padma Karpo School , nestled in the cold desert of Ladakh and popularly known as "Rancho's school", has finally got CBSE affiliation more than two decades after it was founded. The affiliation was granted after several delays and rejections. The school, which shot to fame after it featured in the Aamir Khan-starrer movie "3 Idiots" in 2009, was so far affiliated with the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE).Known for its innovative methods of teaching much before the new National Education Policy (NEP) proposed reforms to move away from traditional "rot learning", the school is now planning to expand till class 12."We have finally got the CBSE affiliation after delay of several years and our first batch of class 10 students is now waiting for their CBSE board exam results."Though we had all the required infrastructure in place, excellent result record and focus on innovative ways of teaching and learning, we didn't get the NOC from the JKBOSE despite several attempts all these years," school principal Mingur Angmo told per the affiliation norms of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), schools require a 'no objection certificate' from the respective state board. The foreign schools require a similar document from the embassy concerned or the Consulate of India in the country school has been trying to get the clearance since even before Ladakh acquired the Union Territory status."The infrastructure is already being expanded and we plan to start class 11 and 12 by 2028. We are conducting some training for our teachers to facilitate a smooth transition for students to the CBSE curriculum. Our methods of teaching were different from traditional classroom teaching and with the CBSE also reforming its pedagogy after the NEP, it will be easier for us to blend both," Angmo after the bifurcation, several schools in Ladakh continue to be affiliated to the Jammu and Kashmir board.A committee had also proposed establishment of a new territorial board in Ladakh with an aim to fulfil the "realistic needs of the students as per the natural conditions of the region".The 24-year-old school is named after Mipham Pema Karpo (1527-1592), who is revered as a great scholar, while Padma Karpo means 'White Lotus' in Bothi, the local school is now flocked by tourists, making it a 'must go' point on the itinerary. A wall of the school's building featured in the closing scene of the Bollywood film in which one of the characters, Chatur, tries to urinate but gets an electric shock as two kids throw at him a light bulb connected with wire from the first floor's the 'iconic idiotic wall' - part of a building which was damaged in the 2010 flash floods - still remains on campus, the first floor, earlier made of bricks, has been replaced with wooden structures typically used in school decided in 2018 to relocate the 'Rancho's wall' to ensure students don't get distracted due to inflow of tourists."Now the two areas are separate, the students do not get disturbed by the tourists. However, at times tourists get to attend some activities ongoing at the school. Like yesterday, we had conducted mock elections with the election commission here. The activity was done to give students a first-hand experience of the democratic process right from voting to the forming of a government."So, if there is such an activity going on, we sometimes allow visitors to attend or see," Angmo explained."With CBSE affiliation, the transition for higher education in the country and abroad will be easier for our students and we can set an example of blending traditional classroom learning with innovative and play-way methods of teaching," she added.