When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

This Happened

This Happened - February 17: Michael Jordan Is Born

On this day in 1963, Michael Jordan was born. Many consider him the greatest basketball player of all time.


Get This Happened straight to your inbox ✉️ each day! Sign up here.

What was Michael Jordan's childhood like?

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Wilmington, North Carolina as a young child. He was the third son of James and Delores Jordan.

He was a good student and excelled as an athlete in three sports: Football, baseball, and basketball. As a 5 foot 9 inch sophomore at Laney High School, he was cut from the Varsity team, which would be a lifelong motivator for Jordan. Later he became the first player in high school history to average a triple-double (double digits in points, assists and rebounds) and led his team to the State Championship.

What awards and honors has Michael Jordan received?

Jordan won six NBA championships, all with the Chicago Bulls. He won his first championship in 1991, and then won five more consecutively from 1996 to 1998. Jordan has received numerous individual awards and honors throughout his career, including: 5 MVP awards, 10 NBA scoring titles, 14 All-Star selections and Hall of Fame inductee in 2009.

What is Michael Jordan's net worth?

As of 2021, Michael Jordan's net worth is estimated to be around $2.1 billion, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. He has also made a significant amount of money through his various business ventures, including his partnership with Nike.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Geopolitics

Xi Jinping's Mission In Moscow, And The Limits Of The Russia-China Alliance

As Xi's closely watched visit to Moscow begins, China and Russia may seem like strategic partners, but it has ultimately shown to be a marriage of convenience. And both countries are naturally competitors, wary if the other grows stronger.

Photo of ​Chinese President Xi Jinping walking past Russian soldiers as he lands in Moscow on March 20

Chinese President Xi Jinping landing in Moscow on March 20

Petro Shevchenko

This article has been updated March 20, 12:00 p.m. CST

-Analysis-

Long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping were growing closer. China’s goal? To revamp the current world order, significantly weaken the West and its leaders, and to become the world-dominating figurehead over and above the United States.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

Sign up to our free daily newsletter.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has become an essential element of this plan to destabilize the global situation.

When the West began imposing stringent sanctions on Russia, China instead chose to economically support Putin and left its markets open to accept raw materials from Russia. But don’t think this means China is Putin’s lapdog. Quite the contrary: Beijing has never helped Moscow to its own detriment, not wishing to fall under the punitive measures of the U.S. and Europe.

The fundamental dynamic has not changed ahead of Xi Jinping's arrival on Monday for his first visit to Moscow since the war began. Beyond the photo ops and pleasant words that Xi and Putin are sure to share, the Russian-Chinese alliance continues to be looked at skeptically amongst the elite in both Beijing and Moscow.

China was not expecting Russia’s plans to occupy Ukraine in a matter of days to fail and as a result, China’s aim to destabilize the West alongside its Russian partner failed.

Add to this the various alliances in the West emerging against Beijing and fears for China’s economy on home turf is beginning to grow.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest