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A new Senate bill in Texas, known as Senate Bill 20, is causing significant unrest within the anime and manga community worldwide. The legislation, which focuses on visual content featuring fictional minors in sexual or suggestive contexts, has raised alarms among artists, fans, and content creators.
This law’s implications extend to hand-drawn anime, cosplay, and even AI-generated artwork, leading to fears of censorship and the potential for criminal charges over fictional expressions.
The bill, which passed unanimously in the Texas Senate, is currently awaiting approval from the House of Representatives. It criminalizes the possession, viewing, or sharing of obscene materials that appear to depict minors, whether real or fictional. Violators could face severe penalties, including up to two years in prison and fines reaching Rs 8.3 lakh (approximately USD $10,000), with even stricter consequences for repeat offenders.
Senator Pete Flores, the bill’s sponsor, argues that it is designed to protect children from digital exploitation, particularly in the realm of AI and computer-generated content. However, critics are concerned about the ambiguous language of the bill, which they believe could inadvertently target innocent artists and fans.
Deneice Leigh, head of Anime Matsuri, one of Texas’ largest anime conventions, voiced her worries about the vagueness of the law: “Artists are anxious about displaying or selling fan art. While the intention may not be to penalize creators, the wording needs clarification.”
The potential impact of the law could extend to well-known anime and manga series with stylized character designs and mature themes. Titles such as “Dan Da Dan,” “No Game No Life,” “High School DxD,” “To Love-Ru,” and “Prison School,” among others, could find themselves under scrutiny. Even popular series like “Naruto,” “My Hero Academia,” and “Sword Art Online” may be affected due to their borderline content.
Experts are warning that the bill creates a confusing legal landscape that blurs the line between fantasy and criminality. Kirsten Cather, a professor at the University of Texas, commented, “Many anime characters appear youthful, regardless of their actual age, which could be misinterpreted under this law.”
Jeff Trexler, a legal expert and director at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, cautioned that the bill could infringe on free speech rights: “This legislation risks crossing First Amendment boundaries. Fiction is not reality, and punishing it poses a significant threat.”
If SB 20 becomes law, it could have a widespread impact on various aspects of the anime industry, including adult-only areas at conventions, manga import/export regulations, cosplay photography, online comics, and fan art collaborations.
Trexler noted, “Even if the law permits certain content, the fear of repercussions may discourage people from engaging with specific titles, leading to unspoken censorship.”
Historically, the U.S. Supreme Court has opposed similar laws, affirming in 2002 that fictional content is protected by free speech. Furthermore, in 2008, the Court upheld restrictions against misleading materials only when they falsely depicted real minors. Experts contend that SB 20 merges these elements, risking unconstitutional overreach.
The fear surrounding this law could lead to self-censorship among stores, publishers, and artists, even in the absence of legal action. Trexler emphasized, “The objective might be to instill fear rather than enforce the law. This is a form of censorship in itself.” Cather added, “Politicians often seek to appear tough on crime, but such measures could stifle creative expression.”
In light of these developments, Trexler has vowed to support any artist wrongfully accused under SB 20 and urges the public to be aware of their creative rights: “Fiction should not be equated with crime. The human imagination ought to remain free from punishment.”

In 2024, the AP Intermediate first-year and second-year results were announced on April 12.

Owen Cooper, a 15-year-old actor from Warrington, is being seen as the top favorite to win a major Emmy Award for his role in the Netflix hit drama Adolescence. If he wins, he’ll make history as the youngest male actor to ever win the award in the show’s 76-year history—and all for his very first acting job.
Industry experts and fellow actors are calling Cooper’s rise extraordinary. Some said his potential Emmy win would be as big as scoring the winning goal in a World Cup match on your debut. Despite the massive praise, Owen himself has remained very humble. He recently told awards site Gold Derby that if he won, he would accept the award, appreciate the moment, and move on with his life. He said it would be a memory he’d always carry with him.
Cooper plays Jamie Miller, a teenager suspected of murder in Adolescence, which has become one of the most-watched shows on Netflix. His role has impressed many, and critics are calling it a smart move to enter him in the Best Supporting Actor category rather than Best Actor, saying it gives him a stronger chance of winning. As of now, his odds to win are tied at the top with actor Javier Bardem for his role in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
In interviews, Cooper credited the team around him for his success. He mentioned actors and crew members like Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters, director Phil Barantini, and producer Jo Johnson, saying he couldn’t have done it without them. Graham, who also stars in the show and plays Cooper’s on-screen father, praised the young actor’s talent and called it “generational.” He added that Cooper’s intelligence, energy, and eagerness to learn made him stand out even more.
Experts from awards site Gold Derby, including Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng, both said they strongly believe Cooper will win. They pointed out that Adolescence is likely to win several other Emmy awards too, including Best Limited Series, Best Actor, and possibly multiple supporting categories.
The odds show Cooper is currently a 9/2 favorite for Supporting Actor, tied with Javier Bardem. Other cast members from the show, like Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco, are also in the running for awards, while Stephen Graham is in strong contention for Best Actor.
Owen was chosen for the role of Jamie out of 500 candidates and has no formal training or family background in acting. His parents, Andy and Noreen, are still adjusting to their son’s sudden fame. Culture experts have even compared him to stars like Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, saying he’s on track to become one of Hollywood’s next big names.
According to MailOnline, Variety, and Gold Derby, the Emmy nominations will be announced in July, and the awards ceremony will take place in September. All eyes are now on Cooper, who many believe is about to make Emmy history.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public rally in Varanasi on Friday, took a veiled dig at opposition parties and said that parties focused on gaining power are mainly concerned with promoting their own families. In contrast, he said, his government is committed to working for the development of all people through the idea of inclusive progress..
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for 44 projects worth Rs 3,880 crore, PM Modi said, “Our guiding mantra in serving the nation has always been ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. With this spirit, we continue to move forward for the betterment of every citizen.”
He further said that some political groups are more focused on power than public service. “Those who play games day and night only to grab power, their principle is ‘parivar ka saath parivar ka vikas‘ (family support, family development),” he said. Modi was speaking in his parliamentary constituency.
Speaking about the progress in his constituency, Prime Minister Modi said that while eastern Uttar Pradesh earlier lacked proper healthcare facilities, Varanasi is now emerging as a hub for health services.
“Today India is moving ahead with both development and heritage together and our Kashi is becoming the best model for this,” he said. He added, “The soul of India resides in its diversity and Kashi is its most beautiful picture.”
Modi also mentioned that efforts are underway to bring the 2036 Olympic Games to India.
Among the projects launched were several rural development schemes. According to Varanasi divisional commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma, these include 130 drinking water projects, 100 anganwadi centres, 356 libraries, a polytechnic college in Pindra, and a government degree college.
Other facilities inaugurated by the prime minister include a transit hostel at the police lines, police barracks in Ramnagar, and four rural roads.
Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the event.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that India is prepared for a high degree of urgency with regards to the United States, a country which he said has fundamentally changed its approach to engaging with the world, and it has consequences across every domain.

Speaking at the Carnegie Global Summit, Mr Jaishankar said that India’s trade deals are very challenging as the US is very ambitious and the global landscape is very much different that what it was a year ago.

“This time around, we are certainly geared up for a very high degree of urgency. I mean, we see a window. We want to see stuff. So our trade deals are very, you know, they’re really challenging. And we are really, when I look at the trade deals, I mean it’s not my direct credit, but we have a lot to do with each other. I mean, these are people very much on top of their game, very ambitious about what they want to achieve,” he said.

Mr Jaishankar added that just as the US has a view of India, India too has a view of them.

“We did four years of talking in the first Trump administration. They have their view of us and frankly we have our view of them. The bottom line is that they didn’t get that. So if you look at the EU, often people say we’ve been negotiating for 30 years which is not entirely true because we had big blocks of time and nobody was even talking to each other. But they have tended to be very protracted processes,” he said.

Mr Jaishankar said that the US-China trade dynamics are influenced by trade, as well as technology, and the decisions impelled by China are as consequential as the US.

“There’s the other shift, and that’s an evolution, you can say. It’s something which appears, even if it is not, more of an unfolding rather than dramatic events. And that is the advancement of China. So that is happened in respect of course, on trade. What we saw, in many ways is the trade story has also been tech story. And it had its dramatic moments, DeepSeek was one,” he said.

He said that both nations are influenced by each other.

“But I would argue that the changes impelled by China are as consequential as the shifts in the American position. In fact, one is to some extent, influenced by the other,” he said.

Mr Jaishankar said that Japan, South Korea and China have sought to make a geopolitical comeback through technology.

“I think in many ways, Japan particularly, South Korea to some extent, have also sought through the tech world means of a geopolitical comeback. And, you know, the salience of Taiwan, of course, doesn’t need to be even mentioned,” he said.

In all this, he said, India is making progress in the Digital Public Infrastructure and is giving priority to semiconductors.

“Now, in all of this, where is India? And you’ve had an opportunity in this visit. I hope your conversations in the last two days have enhanced it, and the coming two days even more so, to acquaint yourself and to debate and discuss what is happening in our part of the world. Some of it is better known, DPI for example. Some of it is in the making. I mean, you know, the priority now given after many decades to semiconductors is an example,” he said.

Mr Jaishankar said that through the Global Tech Summit, one could see the technological side of the country in a positive way.

“Who are the consumers? What will be the mode of consumption? Where are the refined rates for that new oil? And finally, what is going to be the trade in that particular commodity? And I’m really pleased that the organizers of GTS have chosen to take an optimistic view of this churn which is underway. This was completely their decision, but I do want to say that it reflects in many ways the mood of the country and certainly the outlook of the government,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The full moon for April, also known as the Pink Moon or Paschal Moon, will rise on Saturday, April 12. April’s “Pink Moon” signifies the “return of life and the resurgence of nature after winter’s dormancy,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanack.

Local moonrise and moonset times vary depending on your location. The spectacular full moon will reach its maximum brightness at 8:22 p.m. EDT (0022 GMT on April 13),  Space.com reported.

It is unique because it’s the year’s smallest full moon, or “micromoon.” The moon will be situated close to the dazzling blue-white star Spica in the constellation Virgo.

It occurs when the moon is at its apogee, or furthest point from Earth in its orbit. As a result, it will appear to have a diameter of about 5.1 per cent less than normal. Hence, the term “micromoon,” the opposite of a supermoon.

While the moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, it might be difficult to see the difference with the naked eye.

How to watch it

Look for an open area where the Moon is barely above the horizon for the finest view. The Pink Moon will then appear larger and sparkle with a golden tinge, creating what is known as the Moon illusion.

April’s full moon is not necessarily going to appear pink in colour. According to Starwalk, Native Americans named the moon after the colour of the wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers to blossom in April.

The Old Farmer’s Almanack stated that although the perennial bloom is often pink, it can also be purple or white, per The Tennessean. Other historical names for Pink Moon in various cultures include Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon.

April’s full moon is also known as “Paschal Full Moon” because it determines the day of Easter. The Paschal full moon, which occurred on March 20, is the first full moon following the March equinox. In 2025, Easter will be observed on April 20, the first Sunday after the full moon.

Where you can watch it from

The full moon will momentarily cover Spica in a phenomenon called occultation, an added treat to skywatchers in Central and South America and areas of southern Africa. The entire event can be observed in cities, including Montevideo, Caracas, and Buenos Aires, at different timings depending on the region.

The Blood Moon was the last full moon, shining brightly on March 14, 2025. The Snow Moon in February peaked on February 12 before that. The next full moon or “Flower Moon”, is scheduled for May 12 at 11:56 CT.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 on the Richter Scale jolted Myanmar on Friday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.

The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.

In a post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 4.1, On: 11/04/2025 08:02:14 IST, Lat: 18.34 N, Long: 95.89 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar.”

EQ of M: 4.1, On: 11/04/2025 08:02:14 IST, Lat: 18.34 N, Long: 95.89 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjcVGs @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/8tN4sC6j7H

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) April 11, 2025

India continues Operation Brahma in response to the deadly earthquake that took place in the region on March 28 and the country issued a rare plea for help.

#OperationBrahma: A testament to India’s commitment to humanity 🇮🇳🤝🇲🇲
वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्

Watch glimpses of the Indian Army’s humanitarian assistance during the Myanmar Earthquake. #HADR@MEAIndia@DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India@IndiainMyanmar pic.twitter.com/pCkTRq3KSM

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 10, 2025

The Indian assistance team assessed 6 sites in Naypyitaw on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said.

In a post on X, the Embassy said, “Widening Operation Brahma. After assessing 6 affected sites in Mandalay, the safety & demolition engineers team from India assessed 6 sites in Naypyitaw today. And an Orthopedic surgeon from our Medical team is assisting treatment of 70 patients at a Naypyitaw Hospital.”

Widening #OperationBrahma. After assessing 6 affected sites in Mandalay, the safety & demolition engineers team from India assessed 6 sites in Naypyitaw today. And an Orthopedic surgeon from our Medical team is assisting treatment of 70 patients at a Naypyitaw Hospital.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/Kp82EQPFkS

— India in Myanmar (@IndiainMyanmar) April 10, 2025

India has been actively engaged in the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma, with the Indian Army providing critical relief in its Field Hospital in Mandalay, the country’s worst-hit city.

As of April 9, a total of 1,651 patients have been treated at the Army Field Hospital, with 281 patients receiving treatment on that day alone, as per a release by the Army.

The hospital also conducted seven major and 38 minor surgeries.In addition, an Indian Army Engineer team (19 ER) travelled from Mandalay to the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where they met with officials from Myanmar’s Ministry of Construction to assess the demolition of select buildings.

Meanwhile, another team of orthopaedic specialists from the Field Hospital also travelled to Nay Pyi Taw, where they discussed specialist prosthetics for 70 patients affected by the earthquake with the Myanmar Ministry of Health.

As per the State Administration Council’s communication team as of Friday, 3,645 people have died, 5,017 have been injured, and 148 are still unaccounted for in Myanmar’s terrible 7.7-magnitude earthquake that took place on March 28.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has declared the results of the HSLC or Class 10 exam today. Around  63.98 per cent students qualified the exam. Boys have performed better in the exam with an overall pass percentage of 67.59 per cent, whereas for girls the pass percentage is 61.09 per cent.  

Amishi Saikia from Pragya Academy Senior Secondary School, Jorhat has secured the top rank with 98.50 per cent. She has scored 591 marks. Saptarswa Bordoloi from Assam Jatiya Bidyalay, Noonmati, Kamrup (M), is the second rank holder with 98.33 per cent. He has scored 590 marks. Anirban Borgohain is the third rank holder with 98.17 per cent and 589 marks.

Around 4,29,449 candidates registered for the Class 10 HSLC exam. Of these, around 4,22,737 students appeared for the exam. The pass percentage registered was 63.98 per cent. 
Nearly 6,712 students were absent in the Assam Class 10th exam. The results of 22 candidates has been withheld while 101 students were expelled.

Sivasagar has emerged as  the best performing district in the Class 10 HSLC results. The regions has secured an overall pass percentage of 85.55 per cent.  Dibrugarh with 81.10 per cent is the second best performing region, Dhemaji with 80.64 per cent is the third best performing  region. With 79.61 per cent  Jorhat ranks  fourth and Nalbari ranks fifth with 78.40 per cent. 

The announcement for the release of results was made by Ranoj Pegu, Cabinet Minister for Higher Education, Tribal Affairs, Government of Assam on social media platform X. 

Once released, candidates who appeared in the exam will be able to check their results on the official website of the Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA). They will be required to enter their login credentials to access the results.

The results can also be checked on the NDTV website by entering the roll number and other details. SEBA also has an official mobile app that allows students to check the results on their Android device.

Assam Board Result LIVE: CHECK HERE

Here are the LIVE updates on the Assam Class 10 Board Results: