Spacat

1. What the rule was before 2019 A player who picked up his dribble or caught the ball could legally take two steps before stopping, passing, or shooting. There was no official definition of the “gather” moment. Refs had to guess when the dribble actually ended. Many flashy moves (Euro step, hop-step, step-back) were called inconsistently — sometimes travel, sometimes not. 2. What exactly changed (official wording from NBA Rule Book) The NBA added this exact definition: GatherFor a player who receives a pass or gains possession of a loose ball: the point where the player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or cradle it against his body. For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling: the point where the player does any one of the following: puts two hands on the ball, stops dribbling, or starts to lift the ball off the floor. Then the traveling rule was rewritten: A player who gathers the ball while progressing may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing, or shooting the ball. The first step occurs when a foot (or both feet) touch the floor after the player gathers the ball. In simple terms: The gather itself is now a “zero step.” After the gather, you still get the traditional two legal steps. This makes many moves that looked like 3–5 steps completely legal. 3. Why the NBA made the change Clarity for officials: Refs had been unofficially using the “gather” concept for years, but it wasn’t written in the rulebook. Modern athleticism: Players were already doing these moves (James Harden, Giannis, Luka, etc.). The league wanted to stop inconsistent calls and embrace the evolution of the game. Game flow & entertainment: Monty McCutchen (then VP of Referee Development) said the goal was to reduce confusing stoppages and let stars create highlights. FIBA had already legalized similar moves in 2018 - NBA followed to stay consistent with international rules. 4. Real-world impact on the game (2019 → 2026) Positive effects: Explosion of creative finishing: Euro steps, step-throughs, hop-steps, and long step-backs became standard. Fewer travel calls overall (the league wanted this). Higher-scoring, more exciting offense - ratings and highlight views went up. Negative effects & fan backlash: To casual fans, it looks like players are taking 4–6 steps (the famous “traveling is dead” memes). The rule is extremely subjective at full speed - even veteran refs sometimes disagree. Old-school purists and international fans hate it (“No Basketball Anymore”). Some analysts argue it reduced vertical, aerial play in favor of ground-based, long-stride drives.

There's no such thing as traveling in the NBA anymore. Jalen Green took SIX steps in a 1-point game with 25 seconds left... no call 😭

@Polymarket “Donald, tomorrow is the birthday of your son, Mr. Barron Trump, and I know he has grown up so much into a very tall, good-looking gentleman. As I see you Donald, it is very clear where he got it… of course, from his parents. There is no doubt about it.”

JUST IN: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi calls Barron Trump very good looking, says "it is very clear where he got it"

Iran is escalating the war by hitting oil and gas infrastructure in U.S.-allied Gulf states. This isn’t random - it’s a direct economic weapon: disrupting global oil supply, forcing higher prices (Brent crude already spiked), and pressuring the West/Israel by targeting energy choke points. If it continues, it could lead to: Even higher oil prices worldwide (already surging). Wider regional conflict (Kuwait/Saudi calling it “dangerous escalation”). More U.S./allied military response (like the Marine deployments).

JUST IN: 🇮🇷🇰🇼 Iran strikes Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery in Kuwait.

This is a dangerous new escalation. Iran is turning the world’s most important oil chokepoint into a pay-to-pass system. If more companies have to pay, global oil prices will rise even higher, and shipping companies will face huge extra costs or risks. It proves Iran is using military control of the strait as an economic weapon right now.

BREAKING: An oil tanker operator paid Iran a $2 million fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, per FT. Iran is now charging "favored" countries millions per oil tanker for safe passage through Hormuz.

This is a dangerous new escalation. Iran is turning the world’s most important oil chokepoint into a pay-to-pass system. If more companies have to pay, global oil prices will rise even higher, and shipping companies will face huge extra costs or risks. It proves Iran is using military control of the strait as an economic weapon right now.

💥BREAKING: An oil tanker operator reportedly paid Iran a $2 million fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Iran is now charging select countries millions per tanker for safe transit through the strait.

BTS Comeback Concert Drives Record Surge in Foreign Tourists to South Korea Seoul, South Korea – March 20, 2026 The global BTS fandom, known as ARMY, has triggered a massive tourism boom, pushing foreign visitor arrivals to South Korea up 32.7% year-on-year in March. According to preliminary immigration data released Thursday, a total of 1,099,700 foreigners entered the country between March 1 and 18 — more than 30% higher than the same period in 2025. Tourism officials and industry analysts directly credit the surge to the upcoming BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, which is expected to draw over 260,000 fans to central Seoul. “ARMY from all over the world are treating this as a pilgrimage,” said a Korea Tourism Organization spokesperson. “We’re seeing record hotel bookings, shopping spikes in Myeong-dong and Jongno, and even a 140% jump in foreign customer sales at major department stores in the past week alone.” Retailers are already feeling the “BTS effect.” Lotte Department Store reported foreign sales at its flagship Myeong-dong store up 140% compared to last year. Local shops have tripled orders for BTS merchandise, and many restaurants have hired multilingual staff and installed fan photo zones to welcome international visitors. The government has responded with special measures: extra immigration counters at Incheon International Airport, extended shifts for officers, and heightened security around Gwanghwamun Square to ensure safety during the massive free concert. This March surge is just the beginning of what analysts predict will be a record year for Korean tourism. With BTS’s full “ARIRANG” world tour kicking off, experts forecast foreign arrivals could exceed 21 million in 2026 — far above previous targets.

• Value: $40 billion (roughly ₩55 trillion) • Technology: Two BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) • Companies: GE Vernova + Hitachi joint venture • Locations: Tennessee and Alabama, USA • Background: This is part of Japan’s huge $550 billion investment promise in the US (made last year). This round is about $73 billion total in energy projects (nuclear + natural gas plants in Pennsylvania and Texas). 1. Solving the AI power crisis
America’s electricity demand is exploding because of AI and data centers. SMRs are smaller, faster to build, and safer than old-school nuclear plants - exactly what the country needs for reliable, carbon-free power. 2. US-Japan alliance upgrade
Japan is pouring money into the US to stay on Trump’s good side, avoid tariffs, and lock in the alliance even tighter.

JUST IN: U.S. and Japan announce $40,000,000,000.00 joint project to build nuclear reactors.

The Pentagon is sending ~2,500 Marines (from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit) + thousands of sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (and supporting ships) from Japan to the Middle East. Total force: Up to ~5,000 personnel across an Amphibious Ready Group. Ordered around March 13–14, 2026; now “rapidly” moving and speeding up (confirmed today by NBC News and others). Reinforce the region amid the ongoing Iran war mainly to secure the Strait of Hormuz, protect shipping, and support U.S./Israeli operations. The tweet’s phrase “to defend Israel” matches how some outlets frame it (joint ops against Iran), though the official focus is broader regional stability. Sending more warships and Marines right now shows the U.S. is preparing for a longer and wider conflict (especially if Iran tries to close the Hormuz strait or attacks more aggressively). It raises the risk of accidental clashes or limited ground actions. But it’s still defensive reinforcement, not the start of a full land war in Iran. Trump and the Pentagon are using this to show strength and protect oil routes, not to launch a major ground invasion (at least not yet). In short, It’s escalation in tension and capability, but not the “boots-on-the-ground invasion” people fear. The situation is getting hotter, but this move is classic crisis management.

BREAKING: The U.S. is rapidly deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East to defend Israel.

Outside North Korea, many people see it the same way: putting a little girl through tank rides, live artillery, and military briefings looks like extreme pressure or even “child soldier” training. But inside the regime, this is presented as the highest honor - showing the Kim family is strong, united, and ready for the future. Kim Jong-un himself seems to genuinely enjoy spending this time with her (he often smiles in these photos), but yes, for a child her age it’s an incredibly intense life.

JUST IN: 🇰🇵 Kim Jong Un rides in tank with his daughter during North Korean military drills.

Super Micro Computer co-founder and Senior VP Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw (along with sales manager Ruei-Tsan “Steven” Chang and contractor Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun) was charged with conspiring to illegally export Nvidia-powered AI servers and GPUs worth billions of dollars to China, violating U.S. export controls. The scheme allegedly involved diverting high-performance servers to Chinese buyers despite the ban on advanced AI chips. Liaw and Sun were arrested yesterday; Chang is a fugitive. Super Micro itself is not charged as a company, but placed two employees on leave and fired the contractor. SMCI fell as much as 14.6% in after-hours trading (the tweet’s “nearly 12%” was early numbers).

🚨 BREAKING: Super Micro co-founder Yih-Shyan was arrested for smuggling $2.5 billion worth of Nvidia GPUs to China. The Super Micro stock is down nearly 12% after hours.

@SawyerMerritt Is the era of autonomous logistics driving finally coming soon?

WSJ: Tesla Finally Has Its First Semi-Truck and It’s Already a Hit With Truckers. "Truckers who drove it in pilot tests say they loved features including a centered driving position, faster charging and longer range for about $100,000 less than other battery-electric trucks. Angel Rodriguez, a 56-year-old truck driver for Hight Logistics in Long Beach, Calif., recently swapped out a 13-gear diesel truck for a Tesla Semi, which is automatic, for a one-month pilot test. “It’s just easier on your body. It’s less stressful because you’re not really having to engage the clutch and the stick shift.” Big F Transport employs five mechanics to service more than 40 diesel-powered rigs and a fleet of trailer chassis in Wilmington, Calif. “If we go all EV we will only need one [mechanic] to service chassis,” said Geovanny Melendez, the carrier’s VP of operations, who went to see the Semi earlier this month at a ride-and-drive event near the Port of Long Beach. Jennie Abarca, co-founder and CEO of King Fio Trucking in Long Beach, Calif., once worked as a truck dispatcher and her husband is a truck driver, so she knows all too well the toll a diesel engine takes on people’s lungs and hearing. She eventually wants to swap out King Fio’s 27 diesel trucks to create an all-electric fleet. King Fio already has 11 battery-electric trucks from Volvo and Nikola. But the company limits those trucks to shorter trips to and from local ports because they only have a range of about 225 miles. The Semi, by contrast, can travel 500 miles on a single charge, according to Tesla. For King Fio that means two or three round-trips a day from Long Beach to warehouses in the nearby Inland Empire or a single round-trip to Las Vegas. She has 20 Semis on order. “The Teslas change everything,” Abarca said. “It opens up a whole different type of delivery that I can make.”

Amid heavy backlash (polls showing even some Trump voters think it’s “too aggressive,” plus incidents like Minneapolis), Trump has told advisors the rhetoric around “mass deportations” went too far. He directed top officials (including new DHS pick Sen. Markwayne Mullin replacing Kristi Noem) to adopt a new messaging approach: focus on deporting violent criminals and recent border crossers, not broad workplace raids or family separations. The White House has already quietly told House Republicans to stop using the phrase “mass deportations” in public. It’s not a full policy reversal deportations are still ramping up with billions in new funding, and the overall goal remains huge. It’s a political recalibration because the hardline approach was hurting approval ratings and farm/business support.

BREAKING: Trump reportedly told inner circle that mass deportation policies went too far, directed top advisors to "adopt a new approach."

Geologists and archaeologists say it’s a completely natural geological formation - a folded rock layer (syncline) or ancient mudflow. The straight lines are common in this type of rock. No actual wooden planks, nails, or ship structure have ever been excavated or peer-reviewed. Even many creationist groups are skeptical of this specific site. The “new” pottery just proves ancient people lived nearby - not that a giant ark is buried there.

BREAKING🚨: Researchers say they found evidence of Noah's Ark using ground penetrating radar - its in Turkey.😮

this is based on a real research paper published just 5 days ago by Fudan University (China) and the OpenMOSS team. What the tweet means (simple breakdown):The headline “AI JUST LEARNED SCIENTIFIC TASTE” refers to something scientists have called the “secret sauce” for 400 years: the rare intuition to look at 1,000 possible research directions and instantly know which one is actually worth years of work. Fudan University turned that into AI code: They trained Scientific Judge on 2.1 million arXiv papers + 700,000 matched pairs (same field/year, but one paper became hugely cited and the other didn’t). → It now predicts which papers will have real impact better than GPT-5.2, Gemini 3 Pro, or any other big model. Then they used Scientific Judge as a “reward system” to train Scientific Thinker. → Give it any existing paper, and it doesn’t just summarize — it proposes the next high-impact research direction (an original idea scientists would actually care about). Scientific Thinker beats baselines by a huge margin (81.5% win rate), and even frontier AIs rate its ideas as better than their own. AI is no longer just a tool that “does science faster.” It’s starting to decide what science is worth doing. If this scales, the bottleneck of discovery might shift from human intuition to whoever controls these models. Huge milestone.