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Thangamalai Ragasiyam (transl. Secret of the Golden mountain) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success. Plot Gajendran, a prince, is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious caveman. Then he meets Amutha, who by her word of love and affection turns Gajendran for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Gajendran's parents. Cast Cast according to the song book and the opening credits of the film: Uncredited roleC. L. Anandan as a dancer in the song "Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran" Production Thangamalai Ragasiyam was produced by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures. The original director was P. Neelakantan who left after directing a large portion of the film, resulting in Panthulu taking over direction. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was primarily shot in black-and-white, except for some sequences in Gevacolor. G. K. Ramu shot in black-and-white, and W. R. Subba Rao shot the colour sequences. Soundtrack The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. The song "Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave" was later used in the Malayalam film Mariakutty (1958) as "Karalil Kaniyum Rasamey". Release and reception Thangamalai Ragasiyam was released on 29 June 1957, and distributed by Meena Movies in Madras. The film was a commercial success. References External links Thangamalai Ragasiyam at IMDb

composer

Thangamalai Ragasiyam (transl. Secret of the Golden mountain) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success. Plot Gajendran, a prince, is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious caveman. Then he meets Amutha, who by her word of love and affection turns Gajendran for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Gajendran's parents. Cast Cast according to the song book and the opening credits of the film: Uncredited roleC. L. Anandan as a dancer in the song "Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran" Production Thangamalai Ragasiyam was produced by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures. The original director was P. Neelakantan who left after directing a large portion of the film, resulting in Panthulu taking over direction. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was primarily shot in black-and-white, except for some sequences in Gevacolor. G. K. Ramu shot in black-and-white, and W. R. Subba Rao shot the colour sequences. Soundtrack The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. The song "Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave" was later used in the Malayalam film Mariakutty (1958) as "Karalil Kaniyum Rasamey". Release and reception Thangamalai Ragasiyam was released on 29 June 1957, and distributed by Meena Movies in Madras. The film was a commercial success. References External links Thangamalai Ragasiyam at IMDb

cast member

Thangamalai Ragasiyam (transl. Secret of the Golden mountain) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success. Plot Gajendran, a prince, is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious caveman. Then he meets Amutha, who by her word of love and affection turns Gajendran for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Gajendran's parents. Cast Cast according to the song book and the opening credits of the film: Uncredited roleC. L. Anandan as a dancer in the song "Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran" Production Thangamalai Ragasiyam was produced by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures. The original director was P. Neelakantan who left after directing a large portion of the film, resulting in Panthulu taking over direction. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was primarily shot in black-and-white, except for some sequences in Gevacolor. G. K. Ramu shot in black-and-white, and W. R. Subba Rao shot the colour sequences. Soundtrack The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. The song "Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave" was later used in the Malayalam film Mariakutty (1958) as "Karalil Kaniyum Rasamey". Release and reception Thangamalai Ragasiyam was released on 29 June 1957, and distributed by Meena Movies in Madras. The film was a commercial success. References External links Thangamalai Ragasiyam at IMDb

producer

Thangamalai Ragasiyam (transl. Secret of the Golden mountain) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success. Plot Gajendran, a prince, is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious caveman. Then he meets Amutha, who by her word of love and affection turns Gajendran for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Gajendran's parents. Cast Cast according to the song book and the opening credits of the film: Uncredited roleC. L. Anandan as a dancer in the song "Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran" Production Thangamalai Ragasiyam was produced by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures. The original director was P. Neelakantan who left after directing a large portion of the film, resulting in Panthulu taking over direction. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was primarily shot in black-and-white, except for some sequences in Gevacolor. G. K. Ramu shot in black-and-white, and W. R. Subba Rao shot the colour sequences. Soundtrack The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. The song "Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave" was later used in the Malayalam film Mariakutty (1958) as "Karalil Kaniyum Rasamey". Release and reception Thangamalai Ragasiyam was released on 29 June 1957, and distributed by Meena Movies in Madras. The film was a commercial success. References External links Thangamalai Ragasiyam at IMDb

original language of film or TV show

Thangamalai Ragasiyam (transl. Secret of the Golden mountain) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language adventure film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, T. R. Rajakumari and Jamuna. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was released on 29 June 1957 and emerged a success. Plot Gajendran, a prince, is separated from his parents by his father's foe at a very young age. He grew up as a ferocious and vicious caveman. Then he meets Amutha, who by her word of love and affection turns Gajendran for good. Both set out to find the secret of Thangamalai to find and save Gajendran's parents. Cast Cast according to the song book and the opening credits of the film: Uncredited roleC. L. Anandan as a dancer in the song "Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran" Production Thangamalai Ragasiyam was produced by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures. The original director was P. Neelakantan who left after directing a large portion of the film, resulting in Panthulu taking over direction. It was simultaneously made in Kannada as Rathnagiri Rahasya. The film was primarily shot in black-and-white, except for some sequences in Gevacolor. G. K. Ramu shot in black-and-white, and W. R. Subba Rao shot the colour sequences. Soundtrack The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa. Lyrics were by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. The song "Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave" was later used in the Malayalam film Mariakutty (1958) as "Karalil Kaniyum Rasamey". Release and reception Thangamalai Ragasiyam was released on 29 June 1957, and distributed by Meena Movies in Madras. The film was a commercial success. References External links Thangamalai Ragasiyam at IMDb

country of origin

"Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" is a 1966 R&B song by Motown Records group The Miracles, issued on Motown's Tamla Records subsidiary. Written by Motown staff songwriter Frank Wilson, it was one of only two singles the group released in 1966, taken from their album Away We A Go-Go.Although the group's billing on their singles remained "The Miracles" up to this point, their billing on the album was changed to "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles," their second album to receive this billing. Lyrical and musical content Despite this song's relatively mild success in 1966, "Whole Lot Of Shaking" was one of The Miracles' most dynamic, most propulsive recordings. This up-tempo song featured rapid-fire vocal interplay between Smokey and the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, accompanied by equally urgent horns and a hot Funk Brothers rhythm section. Smokey, as the song's narrator, portrays a man whose life has been completely changed by a passionate relationship with his new girl: His friends also notice the change in him: Song author Frank Wilson later co-wrote The Four Tops' 1970 hit "Still Water (Love)" with Robinson. He also went on to co-write The Temptations' 1967 Top 10 hit, "All I Need." Cash Box described the song as a "hard-driving, fast-moving romantic thumper about a lucky lass who has finally met the guy of her dreams." Personnel credits: The Miracles Smokey Robinson – lead vocals Claudette Robinson - background vocals Marv Tarplin – guitar Pete Moore - background vocals Ronnie White - background vocals Bobby Rogers - background vocals Other credits Writer–Producer: Frank Wilson Other instruments: The Funk Brothers Chart success This song was not one of the group's more successful singles, and broke a string of Top 20 Pop hits by the group, only reaching #46 on the Billboard Pop charts, but the tune managed much better on the Billboard R&B listings, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #20.The Miracles, after a huge year in 1965, took a year off from touring during 1966, and this song's lack of promotion may have been a reason for its relative failure, but it has nevertheless been included in many Miracles "greatest hits" album and CD compilations. Cover versions and accolades "Whole Lot Of Shakin'" has inspired cover versions by The Hellacopters and Marv Johnson (for the Motown revival label Motorcity Records). Its flip side, "Oh Be My Love", like many Miracles "B" sides, was also popular, and has inspired cover versions by Barbara Lewis, The Supremes, and Barbara McNair. The Huffington Post referred to this Miracles song as a "classic" and as one of "The 22 Lost Classics Of Motown that Deserve To Be Rediscovered" The British "Northern Soul" website "Funky 16 Corners" referred to The Miracles' "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart" as 'relentless", "A monster", and "first-class, floor-filling, spellbinding Motor City soul." References External links "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966) - by The Miracles (1966) on YouTube The Miracles - "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You) " (Special Extended Version)- from YouTube

instance of

"Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" is a 1966 R&B song by Motown Records group The Miracles, issued on Motown's Tamla Records subsidiary. Written by Motown staff songwriter Frank Wilson, it was one of only two singles the group released in 1966, taken from their album Away We A Go-Go.Although the group's billing on their singles remained "The Miracles" up to this point, their billing on the album was changed to "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles," their second album to receive this billing. Lyrical and musical content Despite this song's relatively mild success in 1966, "Whole Lot Of Shaking" was one of The Miracles' most dynamic, most propulsive recordings. This up-tempo song featured rapid-fire vocal interplay between Smokey and the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, accompanied by equally urgent horns and a hot Funk Brothers rhythm section. Smokey, as the song's narrator, portrays a man whose life has been completely changed by a passionate relationship with his new girl: His friends also notice the change in him: Song author Frank Wilson later co-wrote The Four Tops' 1970 hit "Still Water (Love)" with Robinson. He also went on to co-write The Temptations' 1967 Top 10 hit, "All I Need." Cash Box described the song as a "hard-driving, fast-moving romantic thumper about a lucky lass who has finally met the guy of her dreams." Personnel credits: The Miracles Smokey Robinson – lead vocals Claudette Robinson - background vocals Marv Tarplin – guitar Pete Moore - background vocals Ronnie White - background vocals Bobby Rogers - background vocals Other credits Writer–Producer: Frank Wilson Other instruments: The Funk Brothers Chart success This song was not one of the group's more successful singles, and broke a string of Top 20 Pop hits by the group, only reaching #46 on the Billboard Pop charts, but the tune managed much better on the Billboard R&B listings, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #20.The Miracles, after a huge year in 1965, took a year off from touring during 1966, and this song's lack of promotion may have been a reason for its relative failure, but it has nevertheless been included in many Miracles "greatest hits" album and CD compilations. Cover versions and accolades "Whole Lot Of Shakin'" has inspired cover versions by The Hellacopters and Marv Johnson (for the Motown revival label Motorcity Records). Its flip side, "Oh Be My Love", like many Miracles "B" sides, was also popular, and has inspired cover versions by Barbara Lewis, The Supremes, and Barbara McNair. The Huffington Post referred to this Miracles song as a "classic" and as one of "The 22 Lost Classics Of Motown that Deserve To Be Rediscovered" The British "Northern Soul" website "Funky 16 Corners" referred to The Miracles' "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart" as 'relentless", "A monster", and "first-class, floor-filling, spellbinding Motor City soul." References External links "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966) - by The Miracles (1966) on YouTube The Miracles - "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You) " (Special Extended Version)- from YouTube

performer

"Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" is a 1966 R&B song by Motown Records group The Miracles, issued on Motown's Tamla Records subsidiary. Written by Motown staff songwriter Frank Wilson, it was one of only two singles the group released in 1966, taken from their album Away We A Go-Go.Although the group's billing on their singles remained "The Miracles" up to this point, their billing on the album was changed to "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles," their second album to receive this billing. Lyrical and musical content Despite this song's relatively mild success in 1966, "Whole Lot Of Shaking" was one of The Miracles' most dynamic, most propulsive recordings. This up-tempo song featured rapid-fire vocal interplay between Smokey and the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, accompanied by equally urgent horns and a hot Funk Brothers rhythm section. Smokey, as the song's narrator, portrays a man whose life has been completely changed by a passionate relationship with his new girl: His friends also notice the change in him: Song author Frank Wilson later co-wrote The Four Tops' 1970 hit "Still Water (Love)" with Robinson. He also went on to co-write The Temptations' 1967 Top 10 hit, "All I Need." Cash Box described the song as a "hard-driving, fast-moving romantic thumper about a lucky lass who has finally met the guy of her dreams." Personnel credits: The Miracles Smokey Robinson – lead vocals Claudette Robinson - background vocals Marv Tarplin – guitar Pete Moore - background vocals Ronnie White - background vocals Bobby Rogers - background vocals Other credits Writer–Producer: Frank Wilson Other instruments: The Funk Brothers Chart success This song was not one of the group's more successful singles, and broke a string of Top 20 Pop hits by the group, only reaching #46 on the Billboard Pop charts, but the tune managed much better on the Billboard R&B listings, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #20.The Miracles, after a huge year in 1965, took a year off from touring during 1966, and this song's lack of promotion may have been a reason for its relative failure, but it has nevertheless been included in many Miracles "greatest hits" album and CD compilations. Cover versions and accolades "Whole Lot Of Shakin'" has inspired cover versions by The Hellacopters and Marv Johnson (for the Motown revival label Motorcity Records). Its flip side, "Oh Be My Love", like many Miracles "B" sides, was also popular, and has inspired cover versions by Barbara Lewis, The Supremes, and Barbara McNair. The Huffington Post referred to this Miracles song as a "classic" and as one of "The 22 Lost Classics Of Motown that Deserve To Be Rediscovered" The British "Northern Soul" website "Funky 16 Corners" referred to The Miracles' "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart" as 'relentless", "A monster", and "first-class, floor-filling, spellbinding Motor City soul." References External links "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966) - by The Miracles (1966) on YouTube The Miracles - "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You) " (Special Extended Version)- from YouTube

record label

Hedgehog acyltransferase (HHAT), also called skinny hedgehog homology in humans, is a human gene.The HHAT gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes N-terminal palmitoylation of sonic hedgehog. Mutations in HHAT produce a phenotype that is similar to loss of hedgehog function. Finally the HHAT protein shares a short but significant sequence similarity to membrane-bound O-acyltransferases. References External links HHATL protein, human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

subclass of

Hedgehog acyltransferase (HHAT), also called skinny hedgehog homology in humans, is a human gene.The HHAT gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes N-terminal palmitoylation of sonic hedgehog. Mutations in HHAT produce a phenotype that is similar to loss of hedgehog function. Finally the HHAT protein shares a short but significant sequence similarity to membrane-bound O-acyltransferases. References External links HHATL protein, human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

instance of

Hedgehog acyltransferase (HHAT), also called skinny hedgehog homology in humans, is a human gene.The HHAT gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes N-terminal palmitoylation of sonic hedgehog. Mutations in HHAT produce a phenotype that is similar to loss of hedgehog function. Finally the HHAT protein shares a short but significant sequence similarity to membrane-bound O-acyltransferases. References External links HHATL protein, human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

HGNC gene symbol

Hedgehog acyltransferase (HHAT), also called skinny hedgehog homology in humans, is a human gene.The HHAT gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes N-terminal palmitoylation of sonic hedgehog. Mutations in HHAT produce a phenotype that is similar to loss of hedgehog function. Finally the HHAT protein shares a short but significant sequence similarity to membrane-bound O-acyltransferases. References External links HHATL protein, human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

encodes

Caroline Virginia Krout (1852–1931) was an American author. She was born in Balhinch, near Crawfordsville, Indiana, 1852. She wrote several novels and a collection of short stories under the pen name Caroline Brown. In addition to being an author, she was a teacher at Crawfordsville High School and wrote articles for regional newspapers. She died in 1931. Family Her older sister Mary Hannah Krout was also a noted author and journalist. Bibliography Bold Robin and His Forest Rangers. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1905. Dionis of the White Veil. Boston: L.C. Page, 1911. Knights in Fustian: A War-Time Story of Indiana. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1900. On the We-a Trail: A Story of the Great Wilderness. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1903. == References ==

given name

Wendy Armoko, also known as Wendy Cagur (born May 8, 1979), is an Indonesian rapper, actor, presenter, and comedian. He is a member of band The Cagur Band, which was formed by members of the comedy group Cagur. Career He began his career when he joined the comedy group Cagur in 2001. In 2009, he starred in the film Pijat Atas Tekan Bawah, with Kiki Fatmala and Cagur. He hosted the shows Tarung Dangdut, WOWW, and @Show_Imah. He appeared on the Trans TV show Yuk Keep Smile in 2013-14. In 2014, he was nominated in the category "Favorite Comedian" at the Panasonic Gobel Awards and the 2014 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards. Filmography Film Television TV Commercial Awards and nominations References External links Berita di Kroscek Wendy Cagur on Twitter

country of citizenship

Wendy Armoko, also known as Wendy Cagur (born May 8, 1979), is an Indonesian rapper, actor, presenter, and comedian. He is a member of band The Cagur Band, which was formed by members of the comedy group Cagur. Career He began his career when he joined the comedy group Cagur in 2001. In 2009, he starred in the film Pijat Atas Tekan Bawah, with Kiki Fatmala and Cagur. He hosted the shows Tarung Dangdut, WOWW, and @Show_Imah. He appeared on the Trans TV show Yuk Keep Smile in 2013-14. In 2014, he was nominated in the category "Favorite Comedian" at the Panasonic Gobel Awards and the 2014 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards. Filmography Film Television TV Commercial Awards and nominations References External links Berita di Kroscek Wendy Cagur on Twitter

occupation

Wendy Armoko, also known as Wendy Cagur (born May 8, 1979), is an Indonesian rapper, actor, presenter, and comedian. He is a member of band The Cagur Band, which was formed by members of the comedy group Cagur. Career He began his career when he joined the comedy group Cagur in 2001. In 2009, he starred in the film Pijat Atas Tekan Bawah, with Kiki Fatmala and Cagur. He hosted the shows Tarung Dangdut, WOWW, and @Show_Imah. He appeared on the Trans TV show Yuk Keep Smile in 2013-14. In 2014, he was nominated in the category "Favorite Comedian" at the Panasonic Gobel Awards and the 2014 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards. Filmography Film Television TV Commercial Awards and nominations References External links Berita di Kroscek Wendy Cagur on Twitter

given name

Wendy Armoko, also known as Wendy Cagur (born May 8, 1979), is an Indonesian rapper, actor, presenter, and comedian. He is a member of band The Cagur Band, which was formed by members of the comedy group Cagur. Career He began his career when he joined the comedy group Cagur in 2001. In 2009, he starred in the film Pijat Atas Tekan Bawah, with Kiki Fatmala and Cagur. He hosted the shows Tarung Dangdut, WOWW, and @Show_Imah. He appeared on the Trans TV show Yuk Keep Smile in 2013-14. In 2014, he was nominated in the category "Favorite Comedian" at the Panasonic Gobel Awards and the 2014 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards. Filmography Film Television TV Commercial Awards and nominations References External links Berita di Kroscek Wendy Cagur on Twitter

languages spoken, written or signed

Lakhan Ghanghoriya is an Indian politician who was minister of Social Justice, Disabled and Scheduled Castes Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh from 2018 to 2020. He is Member of the legislative assembly from the Jabalpur East. He is member of legislative assembly. He represents the Jabalpur East constituency from where he has won twice. Early life Lakhan Ghanghoriya completed his B.Sc. from Govt. College R.D.V.V University Jabalpur in 1983 and L.L.B from Hitkarini Law College R.D.University in 2001. == References ==

country of citizenship

Lakhan Ghanghoriya is an Indian politician who was minister of Social Justice, Disabled and Scheduled Castes Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh from 2018 to 2020. He is Member of the legislative assembly from the Jabalpur East. He is member of legislative assembly. He represents the Jabalpur East constituency from where he has won twice. Early life Lakhan Ghanghoriya completed his B.Sc. from Govt. College R.D.V.V University Jabalpur in 1983 and L.L.B from Hitkarini Law College R.D.University in 2001. == References ==

occupation

Kózki [ˈkuski] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Grębków, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) east of Grębków, 16 km (10 mi) south of Węgrów, and 65 km (40 mi) east of Warsaw. The village has a population of 174. == References ==

country

Kózki [ˈkuski] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Grębków, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) east of Grębków, 16 km (10 mi) south of Węgrów, and 65 km (40 mi) east of Warsaw. The village has a population of 174. == References ==

located in the administrative territorial entity

Kózki [ˈkuski] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Grębków, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) east of Grębków, 16 km (10 mi) south of Węgrów, and 65 km (40 mi) east of Warsaw. The village has a population of 174. == References ==

Commons category

Jiuxiang Scenic Region (Chinese: 九乡风景区) is located in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township of Yiliang County 90 km away from central Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. It is famous for its caves, mountains, rivers, deep valleys, minority customs and cultures. Jiuxiang Scenic Region consists of 5 major scenic spots: Diehong Bridge (Chinese: 叠虹桥) Sanjiao Cave Dasha Dam Alulong Mingyue Lake.Diehong Bridge itself includes six major scenic spots: the Green Shady Valley, the White Elephant Cave, the Goddess Cave, the Lying Dragon Cave, the Bat Cave and the Tourist Cableway. References https://web.archive.org/web/20080516222412/http://www.kmtrip.net/en/city/kunming/attraction/jiuxiang.htm

located in the administrative territorial entity

Jiuxiang Scenic Region (Chinese: 九乡风景区) is located in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Autonomous Township of Yiliang County 90 km away from central Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. It is famous for its caves, mountains, rivers, deep valleys, minority customs and cultures. Jiuxiang Scenic Region consists of 5 major scenic spots: Diehong Bridge (Chinese: 叠虹桥) Sanjiao Cave Dasha Dam Alulong Mingyue Lake.Diehong Bridge itself includes six major scenic spots: the Green Shady Valley, the White Elephant Cave, the Goddess Cave, the Lying Dragon Cave, the Bat Cave and the Tourist Cableway. References https://web.archive.org/web/20080516222412/http://www.kmtrip.net/en/city/kunming/attraction/jiuxiang.htm

Commons category

Ida Caroline Gandy, née Hony (1885–1977), was an English social worker and author. She wrote children's books, plays, and books about rural life in Wiltshire and Shropshire. Life Ida Hony was born in 1885 in Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, where her father, the Rev. Charles William Hony, was the vicar. Annie Elizabeth Lewin, her "somewhat unconventional" mother, was a writer. Hony moved to London to take up social work, working for the Workers' Educational Association. After moving to Peppard in Oxfordshire, she married the local GP, Thomas Gandy, in 1915. The couple had three children: the diplomat Christopher Gandy, the mathematician Robin Gandy and the physician Gillian Gandy.Ida Gandy wrote stage plays for the local amateur drama group, and published her first non-fiction book, A Wiltshire Childhood, in 1930. In 1930 she persuaded her husband to move to Clunbury in Shropshire. She was active in the local Women's Institute, and during World War II was the Billeting Officer for the Clun Valley. On her husband's retirement in 1945 the couple moved to Dorset. He died in 1948, and after his death Gandy returned to Wiltshire, settling in Aldbourne.She died in September 1977, and is buried in the churchyard of the Church of St Michael, Aldbourne. Works The deer stealers: a village play in three acts. London: Village Drama Society. The gipsy Countess : a play founded on the old folk-song "The wraggle-taggle gipsies". Kelly: Village Drama Society, 1924. Snowdrop and the dwarfs: a fairy play. London: Gowans & Gray, 1925. The fairy fruit: a play for children. London: Gowans & Gray, 1927. Three bold explorers : a story for children. London: Jarrolds, 1927. A good shepherd: a one-act play. London: Joseph Williams, 1927. Lardy cake: a comedy for village players. London: H. F. W. Deane, 1928. The stranger: a comedy in one act. London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, 1929. Sunset Island. London: Oxford University Press, 1929. Illustrated by Frank Adams. A Wiltshire childhood. London: Allen & Unwin, 1929. When the queen passed by : an outdoor play in three scenes. London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, 1932. The musical-box : a fantasy in one act. London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, 1933. He boxed her ears: a farce in rhyme. London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, 1938. Under the chestnut tree. London, Country Life Ltd., 1938. Illustrated by Clifford Webb. Come to the fair: a comedy in one act. London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, 1939. Round about the little steeple; the story of a downland village and its parson in the seventeenth century. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1960. Staying with the aunts. London: Harvill Press, 1963. An idler on the Shropshire borders. Shrewsbury: Wilding, 1970. The heart of a village : an intimate history of Aldbourne. Bradford-on-Avon: Moonraker Press, 1975. == References ==

occupation

Nacimientos del Jague is a mountain in Argentina with an elevation of 5,826 metres (19,114 ft) metres. Location Nacimientos del Jague is within the following mountain ranges: Argentine Andes, Puna de Atacama. Its territory is within the Argentinean protection area of Catamarca High Andean and Puna Lakes Ramsar Site. It is on the border of two provinces: Argentinean provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca. Its slopes are within 2 cities: Argentinean cities of Vinchina and Fiambalá. First Ascent Nacimientos del Jague was first climbed by John Biggar and Gordon Biggar (Scotland) in November 12, 1996. Elevation Based on the elevation provided by the available Digital elevation models, SRTM filled with ASTER (5826 metres), TanDEM-X (5861 metrss), Nacimientos del Jague is about 5826 meters above sea level.The height of the nearest key col is 5242 meters, therefore its prominence is 584 meters. Nacimientos del Jague is listed as mountain, based on the Dominance system and its dominance is 10.02%. Its parent peak is Pissis and the Topographic isolation is 17.8 kilometers. References External links Elevation information about Nacimientos del Jague Weather Forecast at Nacimientos del Jague

country

Nacimientos del Jague is a mountain in Argentina with an elevation of 5,826 metres (19,114 ft) metres. Location Nacimientos del Jague is within the following mountain ranges: Argentine Andes, Puna de Atacama. Its territory is within the Argentinean protection area of Catamarca High Andean and Puna Lakes Ramsar Site. It is on the border of two provinces: Argentinean provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca. Its slopes are within 2 cities: Argentinean cities of Vinchina and Fiambalá. First Ascent Nacimientos del Jague was first climbed by John Biggar and Gordon Biggar (Scotland) in November 12, 1996. Elevation Based on the elevation provided by the available Digital elevation models, SRTM filled with ASTER (5826 metres), TanDEM-X (5861 metrss), Nacimientos del Jague is about 5826 meters above sea level.The height of the nearest key col is 5242 meters, therefore its prominence is 584 meters. Nacimientos del Jague is listed as mountain, based on the Dominance system and its dominance is 10.02%. Its parent peak is Pissis and the Topographic isolation is 17.8 kilometers. References External links Elevation information about Nacimientos del Jague Weather Forecast at Nacimientos del Jague

instance of

Daphnia sinevi is a species of water fleas from the Russian Far East. Description Daphnia sinevi grows to a length of 1.73 millimetres (0.068 in). Distribution and taxonomy Daphnia sinevi is only known from a single pool, 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter at Avangard, near Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai, Russia. It was collected there in 2004 by A. Y. Sinev, and described in 2006 in the Journal of Plankton Research. The holotype, along with an allotype and a series of paratypes are held at the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. The closest relatives of D. sinevi are other species in the species group around D. curvirostris, especially Daphnia morsei. == References ==

instance of

Daphnia sinevi is a species of water fleas from the Russian Far East. Description Daphnia sinevi grows to a length of 1.73 millimetres (0.068 in). Distribution and taxonomy Daphnia sinevi is only known from a single pool, 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter at Avangard, near Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai, Russia. It was collected there in 2004 by A. Y. Sinev, and described in 2006 in the Journal of Plankton Research. The holotype, along with an allotype and a series of paratypes are held at the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. The closest relatives of D. sinevi are other species in the species group around D. curvirostris, especially Daphnia morsei. == References ==

taxon rank

Daphnia sinevi is a species of water fleas from the Russian Far East. Description Daphnia sinevi grows to a length of 1.73 millimetres (0.068 in). Distribution and taxonomy Daphnia sinevi is only known from a single pool, 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter at Avangard, near Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai, Russia. It was collected there in 2004 by A. Y. Sinev, and described in 2006 in the Journal of Plankton Research. The holotype, along with an allotype and a series of paratypes are held at the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. The closest relatives of D. sinevi are other species in the species group around D. curvirostris, especially Daphnia morsei. == References ==

parent taxon

Daphnia sinevi is a species of water fleas from the Russian Far East. Description Daphnia sinevi grows to a length of 1.73 millimetres (0.068 in). Distribution and taxonomy Daphnia sinevi is only known from a single pool, 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter at Avangard, near Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai, Russia. It was collected there in 2004 by A. Y. Sinev, and described in 2006 in the Journal of Plankton Research. The holotype, along with an allotype and a series of paratypes are held at the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. The closest relatives of D. sinevi are other species in the species group around D. curvirostris, especially Daphnia morsei. == References ==

taxon name

Cymolomia hartigiana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from northern and central Europe to eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan. The wingspan is 14–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. There is one generation per year. The larvae feed on Abies alba and Picea excelsa. External links Eurasian Tortricidae

parent taxon

Cymolomia hartigiana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from northern and central Europe to eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan. The wingspan is 14–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. There is one generation per year. The larvae feed on Abies alba and Picea excelsa. External links Eurasian Tortricidae

taxon name

Cymolomia hartigiana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from northern and central Europe to eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan. The wingspan is 14–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. There is one generation per year. The larvae feed on Abies alba and Picea excelsa. External links Eurasian Tortricidae

Commons category

Cymolomia hartigiana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from northern and central Europe to eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan. The wingspan is 14–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. There is one generation per year. The larvae feed on Abies alba and Picea excelsa. External links Eurasian Tortricidae

host

Granulocystis is a genus of algae belonging to the family Oocystaceae.Species: Granulocystis chlamydomonadoides Hindak Granulocystis echinulata (Proshkina-Lavrenko) Hindák Granulocystis exuviata Hindák Granulocystis helenae Hindák Granulocystis ruzickae (Reháková) Hindák Granulocystis verrucosa (J.V.Roll) Hindák == References ==

taxon rank

Granulocystis is a genus of algae belonging to the family Oocystaceae.Species: Granulocystis chlamydomonadoides Hindak Granulocystis echinulata (Proshkina-Lavrenko) Hindák Granulocystis exuviata Hindák Granulocystis helenae Hindák Granulocystis ruzickae (Reháková) Hindák Granulocystis verrucosa (J.V.Roll) Hindák == References ==

parent taxon

Granulocystis is a genus of algae belonging to the family Oocystaceae.Species: Granulocystis chlamydomonadoides Hindak Granulocystis echinulata (Proshkina-Lavrenko) Hindák Granulocystis exuviata Hindák Granulocystis helenae Hindák Granulocystis ruzickae (Reháková) Hindák Granulocystis verrucosa (J.V.Roll) Hindák == References ==

taxon name

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

country

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

capital

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

located in the administrative territorial entity

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

Commons category

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

native label

San Ignacio Río Muerto is a small town surrounded by San Ignacio Río Muerto Municipality in the southwest of the Mexican state of Sonora. Health and education There were 54 schools and one small health clinic in 2000. [1] Economic Activity Agriculture covered 35,000 productive hectares (2000), most of which were irrigated. Main crops are wheat, garbanzo beans, cártamo, sorghum, watermelon, chile and melons. Agricultural production is transported to Ciudad Obregón for packing and export to the United States. Cattle raising was carried out on a small scale and there were more than 6,000 head in 2000. References Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico INEGI External links San Ignacio Río Muerto, Ayuntamiento Digital (Official Website of San Ignacio Río Muerto, Sonora) Gobierno de Sonora

capital of

The 1992–93 Danish Superliga season was the 3rd season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The tournament was held in two rounds. The first round was in the autumn of 1992, and the second in the spring of 1993. The teams placed first to eighth in the first round, and played in the second round. Their scores were reset to zero, and their mutual points were shorted to half. The two teams placed ninth and tenth in the first round, played in the qualification league in the spring. They had respectively 8 and 7 points with. The Danish champions qualified for the UEFA Champions League 1993-94 qualification, while the second and third placed teams qualified for the qualification round of the UEFA Cup 1993-94. The teams placed first and second in the qualification league promoted. Autumn 1992 Table Results Spring 1993 Table Results Top goalscorers See also 1992-93 in Danish football External links (in Danish) Peders Fodboldstatistik

edition number

The 1992–93 Danish Superliga season was the 3rd season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The tournament was held in two rounds. The first round was in the autumn of 1992, and the second in the spring of 1993. The teams placed first to eighth in the first round, and played in the second round. Their scores were reset to zero, and their mutual points were shorted to half. The two teams placed ninth and tenth in the first round, played in the qualification league in the spring. They had respectively 8 and 7 points with. The Danish champions qualified for the UEFA Champions League 1993-94 qualification, while the second and third placed teams qualified for the qualification round of the UEFA Cup 1993-94. The teams placed first and second in the qualification league promoted. Autumn 1992 Table Results Spring 1993 Table Results Top goalscorers See also 1992-93 in Danish football External links (in Danish) Peders Fodboldstatistik

organizer

The 1992–93 Danish Superliga season was the 3rd season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The tournament was held in two rounds. The first round was in the autumn of 1992, and the second in the spring of 1993. The teams placed first to eighth in the first round, and played in the second round. Their scores were reset to zero, and their mutual points were shorted to half. The two teams placed ninth and tenth in the first round, played in the qualification league in the spring. They had respectively 8 and 7 points with. The Danish champions qualified for the UEFA Champions League 1993-94 qualification, while the second and third placed teams qualified for the qualification round of the UEFA Cup 1993-94. The teams placed first and second in the qualification league promoted. Autumn 1992 Table Results Spring 1993 Table Results Top goalscorers See also 1992-93 in Danish football External links (in Danish) Peders Fodboldstatistik

sports season of league or competition

Natatolana lilliput is a species of crustacean in the family Cirolanidae, and was first described by Stephen John Keable in 2006. The species epithet, lilliput, is from the Lilliput of Gulliver's Travels, and refers to the specie's short antennae.It is a benthic species, living at depths of 3 - 25 m in temperate waters, and is found in waters of the Tasmanian Shelf Province. It is a scavenger. References External links Natatolana lilliput occurrence data from GBIF

taxon rank

Natatolana lilliput is a species of crustacean in the family Cirolanidae, and was first described by Stephen John Keable in 2006. The species epithet, lilliput, is from the Lilliput of Gulliver's Travels, and refers to the specie's short antennae.It is a benthic species, living at depths of 3 - 25 m in temperate waters, and is found in waters of the Tasmanian Shelf Province. It is a scavenger. References External links Natatolana lilliput occurrence data from GBIF

parent taxon

Natatolana lilliput is a species of crustacean in the family Cirolanidae, and was first described by Stephen John Keable in 2006. The species epithet, lilliput, is from the Lilliput of Gulliver's Travels, and refers to the specie's short antennae.It is a benthic species, living at depths of 3 - 25 m in temperate waters, and is found in waters of the Tasmanian Shelf Province. It is a scavenger. References External links Natatolana lilliput occurrence data from GBIF

taxon name

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

Commons category

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

said to be the same as

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

genre

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

language of work or name

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

country of origin

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

form of creative work

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

prime factor

1979 (MCMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 979th year of the 2nd millennium, the 79th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1970s decade. Events January January 1 United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the International Year of the Child. Many musicians donate to the Music for UNICEF Concert fund, among them ABBA, who write the song Chiquitita to commemorate the event. The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. Following a deal agreed during 1978, French carmaker Peugeot completes a takeover of American manufacturer Chrysler's European operations, which are based in Britain's former Rootes Group factories, as well as the former Simca factories in France. January 7 – Cambodian–Vietnamese War: The People's Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreat west to an area along the Thai border, ending large-scale fighting. January 8 – Whiddy Island Disaster: The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry, Ireland; 50 are killed. January 9 – The Music for UNICEF Concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the Bee Gees, other performers include Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind & Fire. A soundtrack album is later released. January 16 – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family, relocating to Egypt after a year of turmoil. January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama. January 22 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Mutukula: The Tanzanian military captures the Ugandan border town of Mutukula after a short battle. January 25 – Pope John Paul II arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) or Conference of Puebla. January 28 – Deng Xiaoping arrives in Washington, D.C., for the first visit of a paramount leader of the People's Republic of China to the United States. February February 1 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. February 3 – Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution. February 7 Iranian Revolution: Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts, and government administration; the final session of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous US and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans Police Department. The Soviet oil tanker Antonio Gramsci suffers a minor shipwreck in shallow waters shortly after leaving shore in Ventspils, resulting in a 5,000 ton oil spill, the largest that has ever occurred on the Baltic Sea. March March 1 Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes in favour of a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to failing a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal; in a Welsh devolution referendum, Wales votes against devolution. Philips publicly demonstrate a prototype of an optical digital audio disc at a press conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands. March 2 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: Ugandan rebels attack and capture the town of Tororo. March 4 The U.S. Voyager 1 spaceprobe photos reveal Jupiter's rings. Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Tororo: The Ugandan military retakes Tororo from rebels. March 5 – Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter at 277,000 kilometres (172,000 mi). March 7 – The largest Magnetar (Soft gamma repeater) event is recorded. March 8 Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time. Thousands of women participate in the International Women's Day Protests in Tehran, 1979 against the introduction of mandatory veiling during the Iranian revolution. Images taken by Voyager I proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter. March 10 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Ugandan military, a Libyan expeditionary force and allied Palestine Liberation Organisation militants begin a counter-offensive against Tanzanian troops in south-central Uganda. The Ugandan-led alliance retakes Lukaya after a short clash with the Tanzanian military. March 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lukaya: The Tanzanian military counter-attacks at Lukaya, completely defeating the Ugandan-led alliance. This defeat permanently cripples the Ugandan military. March 13 – Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup in Grenada. His government will be crushed by American intervention in 1983. March 14 – In China, a Hawker Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing, killing 31 people on the ground and injuring 200. March 16 End of major hostilities in the Sino-Vietnamese War. In his letter to the United Nations, Elisio De Figueiredo, the People's Republic of Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, requests an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the question of South Africa's continuous acts of aggression in Angola. March 17 – The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the UK collapses, killing two workers. March 19 – C-SPAN, an American television channel focusing on government and public affairs, is launched. March 18 – Ten miners die in a methane gas explosion at Golborne Colliery near Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. March 22 – The NHL votes to approve its merger with the WHA, effective in the fall. March 25 – The first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, to be prepared for its first launch. March 26 In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign an Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Michigan State University, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeats Larry Bird-led Indiana State 75–64 in the NCAA tournament championship game at Salt Lake City. March 28 In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May. America's most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs, at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. March 29 – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan, the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Head of State) of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. March 30 – Airey Neave, Conservative M.P. in the British House of Commons, is killed, presumably by an Irish National Liberation Army bomb in the car park for the Houses of Parliament. March 31 The last British soldier (belonging to the Royal Navy) leaves the Maltese Islands, after 179 years of presence. Malta declares its Freedom Day (Jum il-Helsien). Milk and Honey win the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 for Israel, with the song Hallelujah. April April 1 Iran's government becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially. Nickelodeon launches from QUBE's Pinwheel experiment and begins airing on various Warner Cable systems beginning in Buffalo, New York, expanding its audience reach. Dale Earnhardt Sr wins his first career NASCAR race at the 1979 Southeastern 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He would go on to win 76 races and seven championships during his career. April 1–18 – Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget about him, leaving him there without food or drink. April 2 – Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: A Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores, killing 66 plus an unknown amount of livestock. It is a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. April 2 – In Japan, the channel of TV Asahi premieres Doraemon. April 4 – Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is executed by hanging for the murder of a political opponent. April 6 – Student protests break out in Nepal. April 7 – In Japan, Yoshiyuki Tomino directs Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series of the metaseries of the same name. April 10 – A tornado hits Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people (the most notable of 26 tornadoes that day). April 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Fall of Kampala: Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda; Idi Amin flees. April 13 – The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. April 14 – The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting over 70 deaths and over 500 injured. April 15 – 1979 Montenegro earthquake: A 6.9 Mw shock affects Montenegro (then part of Yugoslavia) and parts of Albania, causing extensive damage to coastal areas and taking 136 lives; the old town of Budva is devastated. April 17 – Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic are arrested (and around 100 killed) for protesting against compulsory school uniforms. An African judicial commission later determines that Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa "almost certainly" took part in the massacre. April 22 – The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. April 23 – Fighting breaks out in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group; protester Blair Peach receives fatal injuries during the incident, now officially attributed to the SPG. May May 1 – Greenland is granted limited autonomy from Denmark, with its own Parliament sitting in Nuuk. May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and electing Margaret Thatcher as the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government. May 8 – Ten shoppers die in a fire at the Woolworths department store in Manchester city centre in England. May 9 The Salvadoran Civil War begins. The Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris. May 10 – The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing. May 15 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Lira: Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front allies capture Lira, Uganda, from the forces of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. May 21 Dan White is convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, for the assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after using what would become known as the "Twinkie defense" and persuading a jury that the crime was not premeditated. The maximum sentence is seven years imprisonment, with eligibility for early parole, prompting the "White Night riots" in the gay community. The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers four games to one to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. May 25 American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976. Etan Patz, six years old, is kidnapped in New York. He is often referred to as the "Boy on the Milk Carton" and the investigation later sprouts into one of the most famous child abduction cases of all time. This is a cold case until 2010 when it is re-opened. In April 2017, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of the murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. May 27 – Indianapolis 500: Rick Mears wins the race for the first time, and car owner Roger Penske for the second time. June June 1 The Vizianagaram district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India. The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal, in the unrecognized republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets. June 2 Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland on his first official, nine-day stay, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. This visit, known as nine days that changed the world, brings about the solidarity of the Polish people against Communism, ultimately leading to the rise of the Solidarity movement. Los Angeles' city council passes the city's first homosexual rights bill signed without fanfare by mayor Tom Bradley. June 3 Ixtoc I oil spill: A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill until it is surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. 1979 Italian general election: The Italian Communist Party loses a significant number of seats. June 4 Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown. Following the "Muldergate" Information Scandal, John Vorster resigns as State President of South Africa. June 7 – 1979 European Parliament election: The first direct elections to the European Parliament begin, allowing citizens from across all nine (at this time) member states of the European Union to elect 410 MEPs. It is also the first international election in history. June 12 – Bryan Allen flies the man-powered Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel. June 15 McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal in the United States in a nationwide advertising campaign after testing the product since February in franchises in the U.S. state of Missouri. The ecological horror-thriller Prophecy is released in the United States by Paramount Pictures. June 18 – Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna. June 19 – Marais Viljoen becomes State President of South Africa. June 20 – A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape. June 22 The Muppet Movie is released. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him. June 23 – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway in Sydney. It operates as a shuttle between Central and Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line in 1980. June 24 – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, is founded in Bologna at the initiative of Senator Lelio Basso. June 25 – NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig escapes an assassination attempt in Belgium by the Baader-Meinhof terrorist organization. July July 1 Sweden becomes the first country to outlaw corporal punishment in the home. The Sony Walkman goes on sale for the first time in Japan. July 3 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan. July 5 – Queen Elizabeth II attends the millennium celebrations of the Isle of Man's Parliament, Tynwald. July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill. July 9 – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station, Skylab, begins falling back Earth as its orbit decays after more than six years. July 12 The Gilbert Islands become fully independent of the United Kingdom as Kiribati. A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers. Carmine Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family, is assassinated in Brooklyn. A fire at a hotel in Zaragoza, Spain, leaves 72 dead, the worst hotel fire in Europe in decades. July 15 – President Jimmy Carter addresses the nation in a televised speech talking about the "crisis of confidence in America today"; it would go on to be known as his "national malaise" speech. July 16 – Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam al-Tikriti, more commonly referred to in the Western press as "Saddam Hussein", replaces him. July 17 – Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami. July 21 The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the Somoza dynasty and assumes power in Nicaragua. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal. Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela wins the Miss Universe pageant; the stage collapses after contestants and news photographers rush to her throne. The disco music genre dominates and peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the first six spots (beginning with Donna Summer's Bad Girls), and seven of the chart's top ten songs ending that week. July 22 – 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge: Iraqi president Saddam Hussein arranges the arrest and later execution of nearly seventy members of his ruling Ba'ath Party. July 28 – Morarji Desai resigns as India's prime minister and Charan Singh succeeds him. August August 3 – Dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is overthrown in a bloody coup d'état led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. August 4 – Opening game of the American Football Bundesliga played between Frankfurter Löwen and Düsseldorf Panther, first-ever league game of American football in Germany. August 5 – The Polisario Front signs a peace treaty with Mauritania. Mauritania withdraws from the Western Sahara territory it had occupied, and cedes it to the SADR. August 6 - Bauhaus releases their debut single "Bela Lugosi's Dead", considered to be the first gothic rock release. August 8 – Two American commercial divers, Richard Walker and Victor Guiel, die of hypothermia after their diving bell becomes stranded at a depth of over 160 metres (520 ft) in the East Shetland Basin. The legal repercussions of the accident will lead to important safety changes in the diving industry. August 9 – Raymond Washington, co-founder of the Crips, today one of the largest, most notorious gangs in the United States, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; the killers have not yet been identified. August 10 – Michael Jackson releases his breakthrough album Off the Wall. It sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7× platinum album. August 11 The former Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya in Western Sahara is annexed by Morocco. The Machchu-2 dam in Morbi, India, collapses, killing between 1800 and 25000 people in one of the worst ever dam failures. August 14 – A freak storm during the Fastnet Race results in the deaths of 15 sailors. August 17 – The controversial religious satirical film Monty Python's Life of Brian premieres in the United States. August 27 – The Troubles: Lord Mountbatten of Burma and two others are killed in a bombing on his boat in the Republic of Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). Mountbatten was a British admiral, statesman and an uncle of The Duke of Edinburgh. On the same day, the Warrenpoint ambush occurs, killing 18 British soldiers. Doreen Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne would die in a hospital the following day from injuries sustained in the bombing. August 29 – A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution, promulgated by President Siad Barre to placate the United States. September September 1 The U.S. Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps is formed. September 7 – The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), is launched in the United States. September 9 – The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse begins its run, in Canada, before becoming syndicated elsewhere in North America and the world. September 12 – Hurricane Frederic makes landfall at 10:00 p.m. on Alabama's Gulf Coast. September 13 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). September 16 East German balloon escape: Two families flee from East Germany by balloon. The Sugarhill Gang release Rapper's Delight in the United States, the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. September 20 – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic. September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel. September 29 – The overthrown dictator Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad. September 30 – The Hong Kong MTR metro begins service with the opening of its Modified Initial System, the Kwun Tong Line. October October 1 – Nigeria terminates military rule, and the Second Nigerian Republic is established. October 1–7 – Pope John Paul II visits the United States, starting in Boston. October 1 – The MTR, the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong, opens. October 2 – Pope John Paul II arrives in New York City for his first papal tour where he addresses the U.N. General Assembly against all forms of concentration camps and torture. October 6 – Federal Reserve System changes from an interest rate target policy to a money supply target policy. October 7 – Pope John Paul II ends his first U.S. papal visit in Washington, D.C., with his first-ever visit to the White House. October 9 – Peter Brock wins the Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps, with a lap record on the last lap. October 12 Near Guam, Typhoon Tip reaches a record intensity of 870 millibars, the lowest pressure recorded at sea level. This makes Tip the most powerful tropical cyclone in known world history. Thorbjörn Fälldin returns as Prime Minister of Sweden, replacing Ola Ullsten who is named Foreign Minister of Sweden. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first novel by Douglas Adams, is published in the United Kingdom October 14 – National March for gay rights takes place in Washington, D.C., involving tens of thousands of people. October 15 – Black Monday events, in which members of a political group sack a newspaper office, unfold in Malta. October 16 – A tsunami in Nice, France kills 23 people. October 17 – The Pittsburgh Pirates become only the fourth MLB team (as well as the only MLB franchise to accomplish the feat twice) to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win the 1979 World Series. October 19 – 13 U.S. Marines die in a fire at Camp Fuji, Japan as a result of Typhoon Tip. October 20 – The first McDonald's in Singapore opens at Liat Towers in Orchard Road. October 26 – Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu. The eradication of the smallpox virus is announced by the World Health Organization, making smallpox the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction (rinderpest in 2011 being the other). October 27 – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence from the UK. October 31 – Western Airlines Flight 2605 crashes upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, killing 72 occupants plus one on the ground; 16 people on board survive. November November 1 Military coup in Bolivia. Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urges his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests. November 2 French police shoot gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. Assata Shakur (née Joanne Chesimard), a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, escapes from a New York prison to Cuba, where she remains under political asylum. November 3 – In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally. November 4 – Iran hostage crisis begins: 500 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial. November 5 All Saints' Massacre: The military junta in Bolivia initiates a violent crack-down on its opponents. The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio in the United States. November 6 – At Montevideo, Uruguay, the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution, whereby Taiwan Olympic and sports teams will participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympic Games and international sports tournaments and championships. November 7 – U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. November 9 The Carl Bridgewater murder trial ends in England with all four men found guilty. James Robinson, 45, and 25-year-old Vincent Hickey are sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended 25-year minimum for murder. 18-year-old Michael Hickey is also found guilty of murder and sentenced to indefinite detention. Patrick Molloy, 53, is found guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Nuclear false alarm: the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, detect an apparent massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. November 10 – 1979 Mississauga train derailment: A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, causing a massive explosion and the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history and one of the largest in North American history. November 12 Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran. Süleyman Demirel, of the Justice Party (AP) forms the new government of Turkey (43rd government, a minority government). November 13 – Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President of the United States. November 14 – Iran hostage crisis: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis. November 15 – British art historian and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt's role as the "fourth man" of the 'Cambridge Five' double agents for the Soviet NKVD during World War II is revealed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; she gives further details on November 21. November 16 – Bucharest Metro Line One is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 kilometres (5.36 mi)). November 17 – Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and African American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. November 20 – Grand Mosque seizure: A group of 200 Juhayman al-Otaybi militants occupy Mecca's Masjid al-Haram, the holiest place in Islam. They are driven out by Saudi military forces after bloody fighting that leaves 250 people dead and 600 wounded. November 21 – After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four, and disturbing Pakistan–United States relations. November 23 – The Troubles: In Dublin, Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten of Burma in August. He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. November 25 – The last cargo of phosphate was shipped from Banaba Island in Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to the island's chief industry. November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board. November 30 – The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by Pink Floyd, is first released. December December 3 The Who concert disaster: Eleven fans are killed during a crowd crush for unreserved seats before The Who rock concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The United States dollar exchange rate with the Deutsche Mark falls to 1.7079 DM, the all-time low so far; this record is not broken until November 5, 1987. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. December 4 – The Hastie fire in Kingston upon Hull, England, leads to the deaths of 3 boys and begins the hunt for Bruce George Peter Lee, the UK's most prolific killer. December 5 – Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland; he is succeeded by Charles Haughey. December 6 – The world premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. December 12 The NATO Double-Track Decision: is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979, to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle-range nuclear weapons in Western Europe, following the so-called "Euromissile Crisis". The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami. Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-hah, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee. The unrecognised state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to British control and resumes using the name Southern Rhodesia. December 13 – The government of Canada falls in a non-confidence motion. December 15 – The directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki, The Castle of Cagliostro based on the manga series Lupin III is released in Japan. December 21 – A ceasefire for Rhodesia is signed at London. December 23 – The highest aerial tramway in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn, opens. December 24 The Soviet Union covertly launches its invasion of Afghanistan - 3 days later, PDPA general secretary Hafizullah Amin is executed in Operation Storm-333 and Babrak Karmal replaces him, beginning the war. The first European Ariane rocket is launched. December 26 – In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins December 28. Date unknown The One-child policy is introduced in China – it contributes to the country's sex-ratio imbalance. It was loosened in 2013. Hànyǔ Pīnyīn is widely adopted as the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, leading to changes in Western spelling of Chinese toponyms. VisiCalc becomes the first commercial spreadsheet program. The first usenet experiments are conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University. Worldwide per capita oil production reaches a historic peak. The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and some of the Romanovs are discovered and exhumed near Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). NBC introduces a new version of its famous peacock, used in conjunction with the 1975-style N, for the Fall season. Onde Tem Bruxa Tem Fada, book is published. China International Trust Investment Group (CITIC) founded. Births January January 1 Brody Dalle, Australian singer Vidya Balan, Indian actress Gisela, Spanish pop singer and voice actress January 2 Erica Hubbard, American actress Jagmeet Singh, Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party January 3 Koit Toome, Estonian singer and musical actor Rie Tanaka, Japanese voice actress January 4 – Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder January 6 Christina Chanée, Danish-Thai pop singer Bernice Liu, Hong Kong actress January 7 Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Aloe Blacc, American singer and rapper Christian Lindner, German politician January 8 Seol Ki-hyeon, South Korean footballer Adrian Mutu, Romanian footballer Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian football goalkeeper Sarah Polley, Canadian actress, writer, director, producer and political activist January 9 Tomiko Van, Japanese singer (Do As Infinity) Bipasha Basu, Indian actress and model Hannah Yeoh, Malaysian politician January 10 – Francesca Piccinini, Italian volleyball player January 11 Terence Morris, American basketball player Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer January 12 Marián Hossa, Slovak ice hockey player Lee Bo-young, South Korean actress and model Grzegorz Rasiak, Polish footballer January 13 María de Villota, Spanish racing driver (d. 2013) Yang Wei, Chinese badminton player January 15 Drew Brees, American football player Martin Petrov, Bulgarian footballer January 16 – Aaliyah, American R&B singer and actress (d. 2001) January 17 Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress Masae Ueno, Japanese judoka January 18 Jay Chou, Taiwanese singer, song producer and actor Paulo Ferreira, Portuguese footballer Roberta Metsola, Maltese politician Leo Varadkar, 14th Taoiseach of Ireland January 19 – Svetlana Khorkina, Russian artistic gymnast January 20 Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park) Asaka Kubo, Japanese gravure idol Will Young, English singer January 21 Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby union player Inul Daratista, Indonesian dangdut singer Johann Hari, Scot-Swiss Journalist and author January 23 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player January 24 Tatyana Ali, American actress Christine Lakin, American actress January 25 – Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, American politician and businesswoman January 26 ACM Neto, Brazilian lawyer and politician Sara Rue, American actress January 27 Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer January 29 – Christina Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut January 31 – Jenny Wolf, German speed skater February February 1 Mahek Chahal, Norwegian actress and model Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer (d. 2006) Peter Fulton, New Zealand cricketer Juan, Brazilian football player and coach Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress Clodoaldo Silva, Brazilian paralympian swimmer February 2 Fani Chalkia, Greek athlete Mayer Hawthorne, American soul singer Christine Lampard, Northern Irish television presenter Shamita Shetty, Indian actress and interior designer February 4 Andrei Arlovski, Belarusian mixed martial artist Jodi Shilling, American actress Tabitha Brown, American actress February 5 Paulo Gonçalves, Portuguese rally racing motorcycle rider (d. 2020) Ilaria Salvatori, Italian fencer February 7 Cerina Vincent, American actress and writer Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate February 8 Josh Keaton, American actor Aleksey Mishin, Russian wrestler February 9 Ânderson Polga, Brazilian footballer Irina Slutskaya, Russian figure skater Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model February 10 – Paul Waggoner, American guitarist (Between the Buried and Me) February 11 – Brandy Norwood, African-American singer and actress February 12 – Jesse Spencer, Australian actor February 13 Anders Behring Breivik, Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks Mena Suvari, American actress Rafael Márquez, Mexican footballer February 14 Wesley Moodie, South African tennis player Jocelyn Quivrin, French actor (d. 2009) February 16 Valentino Rossi, Italian seven-time MotoGP world champion Eric Mun, leader of Korean boy-band Shinhwa February 17 – Cara Black, Zimbabwean tennis player February 19 Mariana Ochoa, Mexican singer and actress Vitas, Ukrainian and Russian singer and actor February 20 – Song Chong-gug, South Korean footballer February 21 Maria Annus, Estonian actress Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Nathalie Dechy, French tennis player Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer February 25 – László Bodnár, Hungarian footballer February 26 Corinne Bailey Rae, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Susana Diazayas, Mexican actress Ngô Thanh Vân, Norwegian-Vietnamese actress, singer and model February 28 Michael Bisping, British mixed martial artist Sébastien Bourdais, French racing driver Sander van Doorn, Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player March March 4 Ben Fouhy, New Zealand flatwater canoeist Geoff Huegill, Australian swimmer March 5 Martin Axenrot, Swedish metal drummer Riki Lindhome, American actress and comedian Tang Gonghong, Chinese weightlifter March 6 Érik Bédard, Canadian pitcher Tim Howard, American soccer player March 7 Stephanie Anne Mills, Canadian voice actress Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rican politician, Governor of Puerto Rico March 8 Jasmine You, Japanese musician (d. 2009) Tom Chaplin, British singer (Keane) March 9 Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor Melina Perez, American professional wrestler March 12 – Pete Doherty, British singer and guitarist (The Libertines, Babyshambles) March 13 – Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball player March 14 Nicolas Anelka, French footballer Gao Ling, Chinese badminton player Chris Klein, American actor Michele Riondino, Italian actor March 16 – Adriana Fonseca, Mexican actress and dancer March 17 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler March 18 Shola Ama, English singer Adam Levine, American singer (Maroon 5) March 19 Emil Dimitriev, Macedonian politician, Prime Minister Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player and coach Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player March 20 Freema Agyeman, British actress Daniel Cormier, American retired mixed martial artist Bianca Lawson, American actress Silvia Navarro, Spanish handball player March 23 Mark Buehrle, American baseball player Bryan Fletcher, American football player Misty Hyman, American swimmer March 24 – Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter March 25 Lee Pace, American actor Gorilla Zoe, American rapper March 26 – Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress and model March 28 – Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities March 29 – Estela Giménez, Spanish gymnast March 30 Daniel Arenas, Colombian-Mexican actor Jose Pablo Cantillo, American actor Norah Jones, American musician Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ukrainian football player and coach April April 1 – Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper and politician April 2 Lindy Booth, Canadian actress Jesse Carmichael, American musician (Maroon 5) April 3 Živilė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian long-distance runner Grégoire, French singer-songwriter Sasa Ognenovski, Australian footballer April 4 Heath Ledger, Australian actor and music video director (d. 2008) Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Maksim Opalev, Russian canoeist April 5 – Timo Hildebrand, German footballer April 8 Mohamed Kader, Togolese footballer Alexi Laiho, Finnish musician (Children of Bodom) (d. 2020) David Petruschin, American drag queen April 9 Sebastián Silva, Chilean director, actor, screenwriter, painter and musician Keshia Knight Pulliam, African-American actress Mario Matt, Austrian alpine skier April 10 Ryan Agoncillo, Filipino actor and TV personality Rachel Corrie, American activist and diarist (d. 2003) Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese entertainer (KinKi Kids) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, British singer April 11 Sebastien Grainger, Canadian singer and musician Michel Riesen, Swiss ice hockey player Josh Server, American actor April 12 Claire Danes, American actress Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Jennifer Morrison, American actress April 13 – Baron Davis, American basketball player April 14 Pedro Andrade, Brazilian journalist and model Rebecca DiPietro, American model Pierre Roland, Indonesian actor April 15 Karen David, Indian born-Canadian actress and singer Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer April 17 – Sung Si-kyung, South Korean singer April 18 Michael Bradley, American basketball player Anthony Davidson, English racing driver Yusuke Kamiji, Japanese actor Kourtney Kardashian, American reality television star April 19 Kate Hudson, American actress and co-founder of Fabletics Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player April 20 – Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist (d. 2009) April 21 Cindy Kurleto, Filipina-Austrian model and TV personality James McAvoy, Scottish actor Karin Rask, Estonian actress April 22 – Daniel Johns, Australian musician (Silverchair) April 23 Yana Gupta, Indian actress of Czech origin Jaime King, American actress Joanna Krupa, Polish-born American model and actress April 24 Laurentia Tan, Singaporean Paralympic equestrienne Avey Tare, American musician Adam Andretti, American race car driver April 25 Andreas Küttel, Swiss ski jumper Andrea Osvárt, Hungarian actress April 27 – Travis Meeks, American musician (Days of the New) April 28 – Bahram Radan, Iranian actor April 29 Jo O'Meara, English singer (S Club 7) April 30 – Shelley Calene-Black, American voice actress May May 1 Roman Lyashenko, Russian ice hockey player (d. 2003) Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier Mauro Bergamasco, Italian rugby union player May 2 – Jason Chimera, Canadian ice hockey player May 3 Danny Foster, English singer (Hear'Say) Ingrid Isotamm, Estonian actress May 4 Lance Bass, American singer (NSYNC) Wes Butters, English broadcaster May 5 – Vincent Kartheiser, American actor May 6 Mark Burrier, American cartoonist Kerry Ellis, English stage actress and singer Gerd Kanter, Estonian discus thrower Jon Montgomery, Canadian former skeleton racer and television personality; host of The Amazing Race Canada May 8 – Wendy Armoko, Indonesian singer, actor, presenter and comedian May 9 Pierre Bouvier, Canadian musician Rosario Dawson, American actress May 10 Marieke Vervoort, Belgian athlete (d. 2019) Lee Hyori, South Korean entertainer May 12 – Adrian Serioux, Canadian soccer player May 13 Mickey Madden, American musician (Maroon 5) Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland May 14 Urijah Faber, WEC Featherweight Champion Carlos Tenorio, Ecuadorian footballer May 15 – James Mackenzie, Scottish actor and TV presenter May 16 Brandon Lee, Filipino-American gay pornographic film actor Jessica Morris, American actress Barbara Nedeljáková, Slovak actress May 18 Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Michal Martikán, Slovak slalom canoeist Jens Bergensten, Swedish game designer and co-founder of the game company Mojang May 19 Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Diego Forlán, Uruguayan football player May 20 – Andrew Scheer, Canadian politician May 21 – Sonja Vectomov, Czech-Finnish electronic musician and composer May 22 Maggie Q, American actress Nazanin Boniadi, Iranian-British-American actress May 23 – Rasual Butler, American basketball player (d. 2018) May 24 Frank Mir, American mixed martial artist Tracy McGrady, American basketball player May 25 – Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby union player May 26 Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model (d. 2019) Elisabeth Harnois, American actress May 27 – Michael Buonauro, American comic creator May 28 – Jesse Bradford, American actor May 29 – Brian Kendrick, American wrestler May 30 Clint Bowyer, American race car driver Fabian Ernst, German footballer Rie Kugimiya, Japanese voice actress and singer June June 1 TheFatRat, German musician and producer Markus Persson, Swedish video game programmer, designer and creator of Minecraft Rhea Santos, Filipina journalist based in Canada June 2 Choirul Huda, Indonesian professional footballer and civil servant (d. 2017) Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress June 3 – Pierre Poilievre, Canadian politician June 4 – Naohiro Takahara, Japanese football player and coach June 5 François Sagat, French male gay porn film actor, model and director Pete Wentz, American musician, lyricist and bassist (Fall Out Boy) June 6 Solenne Figuès, French swimmer Shanda Sharer, American murder victim (d. 1992) June 7 Anna Torv, Australian actress Kevin Hofland, Dutch footballer June 8 Pete Orr, Canadian baseball player Eddie Hearn, British promoter June 9 – Émilie Loit, French tennis player June 10 – Lee Brice, American country music singer-songwriter June 12 Robyn, Swedish singer-songwriter Amandine Bourgeois, French singer Diego Milito, Argentine football player June 13 Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player Ágnes Csomor, Hungarian actress June 14 – Paradorn Srichaphan, Thai tennis player June 15 – Yulia Nestsiarenka, Belarusian athlete June 16 – Ari Hest, American singer-songwriter June 17 Young Maylay, American actor, record producer and rapper Nick Rimando, American soccer player June 18 Yumiko Kobayashi, Japanese voice actress Chris Neil, Canadian ice hockey player Pini Balili, Israeli-Turkish footballer and manager Ivana Wong, Hong Kong singer-songwriter June 19 José Kléberson, Brazilian football player and coach Kate Tsui, Hong Kong actress June 21 Chris Pratt, American actor Makasini Richter, Tongan rugby league player June 22 Sandra Klösel, German tennis player Jai Rodriguez, American actor and musician June 23 Marilyn Agliotti, Dutch field hockey player LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player June 24 Petra Němcová, Czech model Joaquín de Orbegoso, Peruvian actor Craig Shergold, British cancer patient Mindy Kaling, American actress, comedian and author June 25 Busy Philipps, American film actress June 26 Ryan Tedder, American singer (OneRepublic), songwriter and producer Julia Benson, Canadian actress June 27 Cazwell, American rapper and songwriter Scott Taylor, American politician Fabrizio Miccoli, Italian professional footballer June 28 Felicia Day, American actress, writer, director, violinist and singer Randy McMichael, American football player June 29 Lee Hee-joon, South Korean actor Abz Love, English singer (5ive) Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer Yehuda Levi, Israeli actor and male model Liliana Castro, Ecuadorian-born Brazilian actress Artur Avila, Brazilian and French mathematician June 30 Rick Gonzalez, American actor Ed Kavalee, Australian comedian, actor, radio and television host Faisal Shahzad, Pakistani-American bomber Matisyahu, Jewish-American reggae vocalist, beatboxer and alternative rock musician Nelson Lucas, Seychellois sprinter Christopher Jacot, Canadian actor Andy Burrows, English songwriter and musician July July 1 Forrest Griffin, American mixed martial arts fighter Patrik Baboumian, German-Iranian strongman competitor, strength athlete and bodybuilder July 2 Diana Gurtskaya, Georgian singer Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver July 3 Sayuri Katayama, Japanese actress, singer and lyricist Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress July 5 Shane Filan, Irish singer (Westlife) Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player July 6 Mohsen Bengar, Iranian footballer Kevin Hart, American actor, comedian, writer and producer July 7 Pat Barry, American kickboxer and mixed martial artist Douglas Hondo, Zimbabwean cricketer July 9 Gary Chaw, Malaysian Chinese singer Ella Koon, Hong Kong actress July 10 – Gong Yoo, South Korean actor July 11 Marina Gatell, Spanish actress Im Soo-jung, South Korean actress July 13 Laura Benanti, American actress and singer Ladyhawke, New Zealand singer-songwriter July 14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier Scott Porter, American actor and singer July 15 Travis Fimmel, Australian fashion model and actor Alexander Frei, Swiss footballer July 16 Jim Banks, American politician Kinya Kotani, Japanese singer Kim Rhode, American double trap and skeet shooter Landy Wen, Taiwanese singer July 17 – Mike Vogel, American actor July 19 Malavika, Indian actress David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director, scriptwriter and martial artist Bruno Cabrerizo, Brazilian football player, model and actor July 20 Claudine Barretto, Filipino film actress, television actress, entrepreneur and product endorser Marcos Mion, Brazilian TV host, actor, voice actor and businessman Milan Nikolić, Serbian accordionist Adam Rose, South African professional wrestler Amr Shabana, Egyptian squash player July 21 Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer July 23 – Michelle Williams, American singer and actress July 24 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress July 25 Juan Pablo Di Pace, Argentinian actor and singer Ali Carter, English snooker player July 26 Johnson Beharry, British recipient of the Victoria Cross Tamyra Gray, American singer Derek Paravicini, British pianist Yūko Sano, Japanese volleyball player Mageina Tovah, American actress July 27 Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician (d. 2018) Jorge Arce, Mexican boxer Shannon Moore, American professional wrestler July 30 Carlos Arroyo, Puerto Rican basketball player Show Lo, Taiwanese singer Graeme McDowell, Northern Irish professional golfer Maya Nasser, Syrian journalist (d. 2012) July 31 – B. J. Novak, American actor, director and producer August August 1 Jason Momoa, American actor Junior Agogo, Ghanaian footballer (d. 2019) Honeysuckle Weeks, British actress August 3 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress and author of children's literature Maria Haukaas Mittet, Norwegian recording artist August 4 – Patryk Dominik Sztyber, Polish rock musician August 5 – David Healy, Northern Irish footballer August 7 Miguel Llera, Spanish footballer Gangsta Boo, American rapper (d. 2023) August 10 JoAnna Garcia, American actress Ted Geoghegan, American screenwriter August 11 Drew Nelson, Canadian actor and voice actor Bubba Crosby, American baseball player August 12 Peter Browngardt, American cartoonist Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater August 13 – Taizō Sugimura, Japanese politician August 15 Carl Edwards, American race car driver Peter Shukoff, American comedian, musician and personality August 16 Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer August 19 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer August 20 – Jamie Cullum, English jazz pianist and singer August 22 Matt Walters, American football player Angelu de Leon, Filipina actress August 23 Mulan Jameela, Indonesian singer and politician Ritchie Neville, English singer (5ive) August 24 Elva Hsiao, Taiwanese singer Michael Redd, American basketball player August 25 – Andrew Hussie, American artist August 26 Jamal Lewis, American football player Cristian Mora, Ecuadorian footballer Erik Valdez, American actor August 27 Giovanni Capitello, American filmmaker and actor Tian Liang, Chinese diver Aaron Paul, American actor August 28 Robert Hoyzer, German football referee Yuki Maeda, Japanese singer Shane Van Dyke, American actor August 29 – Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 August 30 Leon Lopez, British actor, film director, singer-songwriter and occasional model Tavia Yeung, Hong Kong actress Niki Chow, Hong Kong actress August 31 Mickie James, American professional wrestler Simon Neil, Scottish musician (vocalist, guitarist, songwriter), Biffy Clyro Marmaduke Duke Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer September September 1 Neg Dupree, British comedian Margherita Granbassi, Italian fencer September 2 Ron Ng, Hong Kong actor Łukasz Żygadło, Polish volleyball player September 3 – Júlio César, Brazilian football goalkeeper September 4 – Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player September 5 John Carew, Norwegian footballer Stacey Dales, Canadian basketball player and sportscaster September 7 – Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian rugby league player September 8 – Pink, American singer and actress September 10 Mustis, Norwegian pianist Laia Palau, Spanish basketball player September 11 Eric Abidal, French footballer Cameron Richardson, American actress and model David Pizarro, Chilean footballer September 12 Michelle Dorrance, American tap dancer Jay McGraw, American author, son of TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw September 13 – Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleyball player September 14 Chris John, Indonesian former featherweight boxing champion Ivica Olić, Croatian footballer September 15 Dave Annable, American actor Amy Davidson, American actress Edna Ngeringway Kiplagat, Kenyan long-distance runner Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player September 16 Fanny, French singer Flo Rida, African-American rapper Soo Ae, South Korean actress September 17 Akin Ayodele, American football player Chuck Comeau, Canadian drummer September 18 Junichi Inamoto, Japanese footballer Alison Lohman, American actress September 19 – Noémie Lenoir, French supermodel September 20 – Lars Jacobsen, Danish footballer September 21 – Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer September 22 – MyAnna Buring, Swedish-English actress September 23 – Lote Tuqiri, Fijian-Australian rugby player September 24 Justin Bruening, American actor and model Erin Chambers, American actress Julia Clarete, Filipina actress September 25 Rashad Evans, American retired mixed martial artist Michele Scarponi, Italian road bicycle racer (d. 2017) September 26 Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese professional wrestler Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia September 27 Zoltán Horváth, Hungarian basketball player (d. 2009) Shinji Ono, Japanese football player Nathan Foley, Australian performer September 28 Bam Margera, American skateboarder Anndi McAfee, American actress and voice actress September 29 Gaitana, Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent Artika Sari Devi, Putri Indonesia 2004 September 30 Mike Damus, American actor Vince Chong, Malaysian singer Juho Kuosmanen, Finnish film director and screenwriter October October 1 Rudi Johnson, American football player Senit, Italian singer of Eritrean descent Marko Stanojevic, English-born Italian rugby union player October 2 – Brianna Brown, American actress October 3 Josh Klinghoffer, American musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers) John Morrison, American professional wrestler October 4 Caitriona Balfe, Irish model and actress Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress Adam Voges, Australian cricketer October 5 – Gao Yuanyuan, Chinese actress October 6 – Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leonean football player and coach October 7 Aaron Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Shawn Ashmore, Canadian film and television actor Simona Amânar, Romanian gymnast Tang Wei, Chinese actress October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress and model October 9 Csézy, Hungarian singer Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor and comedian Brandon Routh, American actor Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer October 10 Wu Chun, Bruneian actor, model and singer Nicolás Massú, Chilean tennis player Mýa, American singer and actress October 11 Bae Doona, South Korean actress Gabe Saporta, Uruguayan singer (Cobra Starship) October 13 Wes Brown, English footballer Mamadou Niang, Senegalese footballer October 14 – Stacy Keibler, American actress and model October 15 – Jaci Velasquez, American Christian singer October 17 – Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish 2007 Formula 1 world champion October 18 – Ne-Yo, African-American singer and songwriter October 20 John Krasinski, American actor Paul O'Connell, Irish rugby union player Anna Boden, American filmmaker October 23 Jorge Solís, Mexican professional boxer Prabhas, Indian actor October 25 – Sarah Thompson, American actress October 28 Glover Teixeira, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Jawed Karim, German and Bangladeshi-American software engineer, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube Martin Škoula, Czech ice hockey player October 30 – Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress October 31 – Raziq Khan, Pakistani cricketer November November 1 Coco Crisp, American baseball player Atsuko Enomoto, Japanese voice actress Milan Dudić, Serbian footballer November 2 Marián Čišovský, Slovak footballer (d. 2020) Erika Flores, American actress November 3 Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer Tim McIlrath, American rock singer, songwriter (Rise Against) November 4 – Audrey Hollander, American porn actress November 5 Leonardo Nam, Australian actor Tarek Boudali, French actor Patrick Owomoyela, German Footballer of Nigerian descent November 6 Lamar Odom, African-American retired basketball player Myolie Wu, Hong Kong actress November 7 – Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter November 8 Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ and music producer Salvatore Cascio, Italian actor November 9 Cory Hardrict, American actor Darren Trumeter, American actor and comedian Caroline Flack, English television and radio presenter and actress (d. 2020) November 12 Matt Cappotelli, American professional wrestler (d. 2018) Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Matt Stevic, Australian rules football umpire November 13 Henry Wolfe, American actor and musician Metta World Peace, American basketball player November 14 Mavie Hörbiger, German actress Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian model and actress Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 Osleidys Menéndez, Cuban javelin thrower November 17 – Matthew Spring, English footballer November 18 – Neeti Mohan, Indian playback singer November 19 Barry Jenkins, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Larry Johnson, American football player Michelle Vieth, American born Mexican actress and model November 20 – Ericson Alexander Molano, Colombian gospel singer November 21 Kim Dong-wan, South Korean singer and actor Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italian footballer November 22 Chris Doran, Irish singer Scott Robinson, English singer (5ive) Njabuliso Simelane, Swaziland international footballer November 23 Kelly Brook, English actress and model Nihat Kahveci, Turkish footballer Ivica Kostelić, Croatian alpine skier November 24 – Carmelita Jeter, American sprinter November 25 – Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor November 26 – Deborah Secco, Brazilian actress November 27 Ricky Carmichael, American motorcycle and stock car racer Hilary Hahn, American violinist November 28 Dane Bowers, English singer-songwriter (Another Level) Jamie Korab, Canadian curler Hakeem Seriki, African-American rapper (Chamillionaire) Daniel Henney, American actor and model November 29 Simon Amstell, English comedian and writer Jayceon Taylor, American rapper (The Game) November 30 Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor Andrés Nocioni, Argentinian basketball player December December 2 Sabina Babayeva, Azerbaijani singer Yvonne Catterfeld, German singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality December 3 Daniel Bedingfield, English pop singer and songwriter Rock Cartwright, American football player Tiffany Haddish, American actress and comedian December 5 – Matteo Ferrari, Italian footballer December 6 – Tim Cahill, Australian footballer December 7 Eric Bauza, Canadian comedian and voice actor Sara Bareilles, American singer, songwriter and pianist Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress Jennifer Carpenter, American actress December 8 – Ingrid Michaelson, American indie pop singer-songwriter December 10 – Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter December 12 Emin Agalarov, Azerbaijani-Russian singer-songwriter and businessman Barulaganye Bolofete, Botswana footballer December 14 Chris Cheng, American sport shooter Michael Owen, English footballer December 15 Adam Brody, American actor Eric Young, Canadian professional wrestler Lee Carr, African-American singer and songwriter December 16 Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Brodie Lee, American professional wrestler (d. 2020) Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer and musician December 17 Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and model Erion Veliaj, Albanian politician, Mayor of Tirana December 19 Kevin Devine, American songwriter and musician Paola Rey, Colombian actress and model Tara Summers, English actress December 20 Flávio, Angolan footballer Ramon Rodriguez, Puerto Rican actor December 22 Eleonora Lo Bianco, Italian volleyball player Petra Majdič, Slovene cross-country skier December 23 Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexican actress and beauty contest winner (Nuestra Belleza México 2000) Kenny Miller, Scottish football player December 25 – Ferman Akgül, vocalist of Turkish nu-metal band maNga December 26 Chris Daughtry, American singer and guitarist Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper December 28 James Blake, American tennis player André Holland, American actor Bree Williamson, Canadian actress Robert Edward Davis, German-American rapper Zach Hill, American drummer (Death Grips) December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor December 30 Flávio Amado, Angolan footballer Milana Terloeva, Chechen journalist and author Yelawolf, American rapper December 31 Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance) Elaine Cassidy, Irish actress Josh Hawley, American politician, U.S. Senator (R-MO) from 2019 Deaths January January 3 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887) January 4 – Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director (b. 1897) January 5 Billy Bletcher, American actor (b. 1894) Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922) January 11 – Jack Soo, Japanese-born American actor (b. 1917) January 13 – Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945) January 15 – Charles W. Morris, American philosopher and semiotician (b. 1901) January 16 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (b. 1932) January 22 – Ali Hassan Salameh, Palestinian Leader of Black September and mastermind of the 1972 Munich Massacre (b. 1940) January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States (b. 1908) January 27 – Victoria Ocampo, Argentine publisher, writer and critic (b. 1890) February February 1 William H. Brockman Jr., United States Navy admiral (b. 1904) Abdi İpekçi, Turkish journalist and human rights activist (b. 1929) February 2 Issa Pliyev, Soviet general (b. 1903) Sid Vicious, English musician (b. 1957) February 7 – Josef Mengele, German officer and physician (b. 1911) February 10 Edvard Kardelj, Slovene general, economist, and politician, 2nd Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia (b. 1910) Karl von Eberstein, German politician (b. 1894) February 12 – Jean Renoir, French film director and actor (b. 1894) February 14 – Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917) February 17 – William Gargan, American actor (b. 1905) February 20 – Nereo Rocco, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1912) February 25 – Henrich Focke, German aviation pioneer (b. 1890) March March 1 Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903) Dolores Costello, American actress (b. 1903) March 15 – Léonide Massine, Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1896) March 16 – Jean Monnet, French political economist, diplomat and a founding father of the European Union (b. 1888) March 18 – Marjorie Daw, American actress (b. 1902) March 19 – Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947) March 22 – Ben Lyon, American actor (b. 1901) March 24 – Yvonne Mitchell, English actress (b. 1915) March 26 – Jean Stafford, American writer (b. 1915) March 29 – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, Sultan of Kelantan and 6th King of Malaysia (b. 1917) March 30 Airey Neave, British politician (assassinated) (b. 1916) José María Velasco Ibarra, Ecuadorian politician, 24th President of Ecuador (b. 1893) April April 4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan and 4th President of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928) Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903) April 10 – Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911) April 11 – Hassan Pakravan, Iranian diplomat (b. 1911) April 19 – Wilhelm Bittrich, German Waffen SS general (b. 1894) April 23 – Blair Peach, New Zealand-born, British teacher (b. 1946) April 24 – John Carroll, American actor (b. 1906) April 27 – Phan Huy Quát, 4th Prime Minister of South Vietnam (b. 1908) May May 1 – Morteza Motahhari, Iranian cleric and politician (b. 1919) May 2 – Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903) May 6 – Milton Ager, American songwriter (b. 1893) May 8 – Talcott Parsons, American sociologist (b. 1902) May 11 Joan Chandler, American actress (b. 1923) Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912) May 13 – Predrag Đajić, Bosnian Serb and Yugoslav footballer (b. 1922) May 14 – Jean Rhys, Dominican novelist (b. 1890) May 16 – A. Philip Randolph, African-American civil rights activist (b. 1889) May 27 – Ahmed Ould Bouceif, Mauritanian military officer, second Prime Minister of Mauritania (b. 1934) May 29 – Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress and producer (b. 1892) June June 1 Ján Kadár, Czechoslovakian film director (b. 1918) Jack Mulhall, American actor (b. 1887) June 2 - Jim Hutton, American actor (b. 1934) June 5 – Heinz Erhardt, German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor and poet (b. 1909) June 6 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1897) June 8 - Reinhard Gehlen, German general, 20 July Plotter (b. 1902) June 9 - Cyclone Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1884) June 11 John Wayne, American Academy Award-winning actor and film director (b. 1907) Loren Murchison, American Olympic athlete (b. 1898) June 13 – Darla Hood, American actress (b. 1931) June 16 – Nicholas Ray, American film director, screenwriter and actor (b. 1911) June 17 – Duffy Lewis, American baseball player (b. 1888) June 19 – Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888) June 22 – Louis Chiron, Monacan Grand Prix driver (b. 1899) June 25 – Dave Fleischer, American animator (b. 1894) June 26 – Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, Head of state (1969–1970) (b. 1936) June 28 – Philippe Cousteau, French diver and cinematographer (b. 1940) June 29 – Lowell George, American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer (b. 1945) July July 2 – Carlyle Smith Beals, Canadian astronomer (b. 1899) July 3 – Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888) July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, American writer and anthropologist (b. 1897) July 6 Antonio María Barbieri, Uruguay Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1892) Van McCoy, American musician noted for his 1975 hit "The Hustle" (b. 1940) July 8 Elizabeth Ryan, American 30 Grand Slam (tennis) Tennis Champion (b. 1892) Shin'ichirō Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) Michael Wilding, English actor (b. 1912) Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917) July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops) (b. 1894) July 12 – Minnie Riperton, American rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You) (b. 1947) July 13 – Corinne Griffith, American actress and author (b. 1894) July 15 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician, 49th President of Mexico, 1964-1970 (b. 1911) Juana de Ibarbourou, Uruguayan poet (b. 1892) July 16 – Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912) July 17 – Edward Akufo-Addo, Ghanese politician and lawyer, 5th President of Ghana (b. 1906) July 20 – Sir Herbert Butterfield, English philosopher and historian (b. 1900) July 22 – Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer (b. 1929) July 28 – George Seaton, American screenwriter and director (b. 1911) July 29 – Herbert Marcuse, German-American philosopher, sociologist and political theorist (b. 1898) August August 2 Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, Peruvian politician, founder and leader of APRA party (b. 1895) Thurman Munson, American baseball player (b. 1947) August 3 – Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist and Liberal politician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (b. 1899) August 6 – Feodor Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911) August 9 – Walter O'Malley, American baseball executive (b. 1903) August 10 Dick Foran, American actor (b. 1910) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi, Afghan politician, 9th Prime Minister of Afghanistan (b. 1921) August 12 – Ernst Chain, German-born British biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906) August 16 – John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1895) August 17 – Vivian Vance, American actress and singer (b. 1909) August 19 – Saad Jumaa, Prime Minister of Jordan (b. 1916) August 21 – Stuart Heisler, American film and television director (b. 1896) August 24 Ahmad Daouk, Lebanese politician, 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon (b. 1892) Hanna Reitsch, German aviator (b. 1912) August 25 – Stan Kenton, American jazz pianist (b. 1911) August 26 Alvin Karpis, American criminal (b. 1907) Mika Waltari, Finnish author (b. 1908) August 27 – Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900) August 30 (body found on September 8) – Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938) August 31 – Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904) September September 1 – Doris Kenyon, American actress (b. 1897) September 2 – Felix Aylmer, British actor (b. 1889) September 5 – Alberto di Jorio, Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (b. 1884) September 9 – Norrie Paramor, British music producer (b. 1914) September 10 – Agostinho Neto, Angolan poet and politician, 1st President of Angola (b. 1922) September 16 Giò Ponti, Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer and artist (b. 1891) Rob Slotemaker, Indonesian-born, Dutch Formula 1 racing car driver (b. 1929) September 20 Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and 4th King of Malaysia (b. 1907) Ludvík Svoboda, 8th President of Czechoslovakia (b. 1895) September 22 Abul A'la Maududi, Pakistani journalist and philosopher (b. 1903) Otto Robert Frisch, Austrian-born British physicist (b. 1904) September 24 – Carl Laemmle Jr., American film studio executive (b. 1908) September 25 – Yury Kovalyov, Soviet footballer (b. 1934) September 26 John Cromwell, American film director and actor (b. 1887) Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (b. 1910) September 27 Gracie Fields, British actress (b. 1898) Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish guitarist (Paul McCartney & Wings) (b. 1953) September 29 Francisco Macías Nguema, 1st President of Equatorial Guinea (executed) (b. 1924) Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Russian composer (b. 1893) October October 1 – Dorothy Arzner, American film director (b. 1897) October 6 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911) October 9 – Nur Muhammad Taraki, Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer (b. 1917) October 13 – Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886) October 15 – Jacob L. Devers, American army general (b. 1887) October 16 – Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1902) October 18 – Virgilio Piñera, Cuban author, playwright and poet (b. 1912) October 22 – Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887) October 23 – Antonio Caggiano, Argentine cardinal (b. 1889) October 25 Maphevu Dlamini, 2nd Prime Minister of Swaziland (b. 1922) Gerald Templer, British field marshal (b. 1898) October 26 – Park Chung Hee, Korean politician, 3rd President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (assassinated) (b. 1917) October 27 – Father Charles Coughlin, Canadian-born American priest and controversial conservative radio show commentator (b. 1891) October 30 Barnes Wallis, British aeronautical engineer (b. 1887) Rachele Mussolini, Italian, wife of Benito Mussolini (b. 1890) November November 1 Albert Préjean, French actor (b. 1894) Mamie Eisenhower, 34th First Lady of the United States (b. 1896) November 2 – Jacques Mesrine, French criminal; known as the "French Robin Hood" (b. 1936) November 5 Al Capp, American cartoonist (b. 1909) Amedeo Nazzari, Italian actor (b. 1907) November 8 – Yvonne de Gaulle, French political wife of former President of France Charles de Gaulle (b. 1900) November 11 – Dimitri Tiomkin, Russian film composer (b. 1894) November 17 – Immanuel Velikovsky, Russian author and psychiatrist (b. 1895) November 23 Merle Oberon, British actress (b. 1911) Judee Sill, American singer and songwriter (b. 1944) November 26 – Marcel L'Herbier, French movie-maker (b. 1888) November 30 – Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901) December December 3 – Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905) December 5 – Sonia Delaunay, Russian-born French artist (b. 1885) December 7 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, British-born American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900) December 9 – Fulton J. Sheen, American Roman Catholic bishop and venerable (b. 1895) December 10 – Ann Dvorak, American actress (b. 1911) December 11 – James J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (b. 1904) December 13 – Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915) December 15 – Ethel Lackie, American Olympic swimmer (b. 1907) December 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani jazz musician (b. 1940) December 21 – Ermindo Onega, Argentine footballer (b. 1940) December 22 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American film producer (b. 1902) December 23 Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898) Ernest B. Schoedsack, American film producer and director (b. 1893) December 24 – Rudi Dutschke, German radical student leader (b. 1940) December 25 Joan Blondell, American actress (b. 1906) Lee Bowman, American actor (b. 1914) December 26 – Helmut Hasse, German mathematician (b. 1898) December 27 – Hafizullah Amin, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (b. 1929) December 28 – Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly, 43rd President of the Dominican Republic (b. 1904) December 30 – Richard Rodgers, American composer (b. 1902) Nobel Prizes Physics – Sheldon Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg Chemistry – Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig Medicine – Allan MacLeod Cormack, Godfrey Hounsfield Literature – Odysseas Elytis Peace – Mother Teresa Economics – Theodore Schultz, W. Arthur Lewis Media The Doctor Who story City of Death is set in 1979, its year of broadcast. The events of the 2011 science fiction film Super 8 take place during 1979. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, an interactive drama video game released in 2016, based on the events of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. References Further reading Caryl, Christian, Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (2013), 1979 as worldwide turning point; excerpt and text search Facts on File. Facts on File Yearbook: 1979 (1980) weekly factual report on events worldwide. Hodson, H.V. Annual Register of World Events 1979 (1980), in-depth coverage of major countries Paxton, John, ed. Statesman's Yearbook 1978–1979 (1980), statistical details on all countries

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The Khamenei family (Persian: خاندان خامنه‌ای) or Khamenei dynasty is among the Iranian Azeri Sayyid families who claim to be descendants of the fourth Imam of Shia Islam, Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (Persian/Arabic: علی بن حسین، زین العابدین) (known as Imam Sajjad) — according to the "Khamenei family tree". Their dwelling place(s) were/are in Azerbaijan (Iran), Najaf, Tafresh, etc. Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, is the most powerful member of the Khamenei political family. His descent, known as "Sadat-e Hosseini", is likewise connected to the third Shia Imam, Hussain ibn Ali. An Al-Manar TV documentary broadcast in March 2020 claimed that Khamenei is the 38th descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad by his son Hussain Asghar, a son of Imam Sajjad.Seyyed Ali Khamenei's father was Seyyed Javad Khamenei, and his paternal grandfather was Seyyed Hussein, who was buried in Najaf, Iraq (in the Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery). Seyyed Hussein's father was Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Tafresshi, who was considered a Sayyid of Aftasi, whose family tree was connected to Sultan-al-Ulama Ahmad (also known as Seyyed Ahmad).Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Tafreshi Khamenei Tabrizi (Persian: سید محمد حسینی تفرشی خامنه‌ای تبریزی) was the son of Seyyed Mohamad Taghi, who was the son of Mirza Ali-Akbar, who was the son of Seyyed Fakhr-al-Din Tafreshi. The descendants of Seyyed Fakhr-al-Din (also known as Mir-Fakhra) are called Mir-Fakhrayi. See also Islamic articles Sayyid Family tree of Ali Ali Khamenei Javad Khamenei Mohammad Khiabani Related Kim family (North Korea) Politics of Iran == References ==

instance of

Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia. Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway was routed into the Kootenay Pass area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967. The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, where it leaves Highway 3 and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay, Boswell, and Wynndel to Creston, where it rejoins Highway 3.The 3A marker in Creston at the junction with the Kootenay pass route falsely advertises it as a northbound highway rather than a westbound highway although all other 3A markers properly describe it as west and eastbound just as the 3 main. The Kootenay pass is prone to closures especially during avalanche season and when it is closed Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake ferry once again becomes a vital link for all traffic on the Crowsnest highway which would otherwise completely cease to function. The ferry will operate on a 24h basis until the pass re opens. Even when the pass is open and despite the pass route being shorter some Kootenay locals still personally prefer to drive the Kootenay Lake route rather than the Salmo Creston route viewing the ferry route as a safer option especially if the weather is bad or at risk of turning bad or if there are construction delays on the pass. It's possible for example for the entirety of 3A from Creston to Castlegar to be bare and dry while the pass is still covered in snow and ice. 3A is also a far easier bicycle route than the Kootenay pass. This combined with people who simply wish to experience a more relaxed drive means a significant minority of ferry users in a given week are using the ferry as part of a trip all the way to or from the coast just as it was used for before the pass route was built. Major intersections The entire route is in the Central Kootenay Regional District. Keremeos-Kaleden Junction Highway A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over Richter Pass to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Subaru Ironman held each August in the Okanagan-Similkameen. The event was known as Challenge Penticton Triathlon between 2013 and 2019 when Subaru withdrew its sponsorship and moved the event to Whistler. The event was reinstated to Penticton beginning in 2022.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km (22 mi) north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route, 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Penticton. Highway 3A used to continue south along Highway 97, past Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos, but the Highway 3A/97 concurrency has since been decommissioned.Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning. Major intersections The entire route is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Richter Pass Highway For a time between 1965 and about 1967, the section of what is now Highway 3 was designated as Highway 3A The highway through Richter Pass itself opened on July 7, 1965 See also Crowsnest Highway Glass House (British Columbia) — a roadside attraction on highway 3A References External links Media related to British Columbia Highway 3A at Wikimedia Commons Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation

country

Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia. Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway was routed into the Kootenay Pass area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967. The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, where it leaves Highway 3 and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay, Boswell, and Wynndel to Creston, where it rejoins Highway 3.The 3A marker in Creston at the junction with the Kootenay pass route falsely advertises it as a northbound highway rather than a westbound highway although all other 3A markers properly describe it as west and eastbound just as the 3 main. The Kootenay pass is prone to closures especially during avalanche season and when it is closed Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake ferry once again becomes a vital link for all traffic on the Crowsnest highway which would otherwise completely cease to function. The ferry will operate on a 24h basis until the pass re opens. Even when the pass is open and despite the pass route being shorter some Kootenay locals still personally prefer to drive the Kootenay Lake route rather than the Salmo Creston route viewing the ferry route as a safer option especially if the weather is bad or at risk of turning bad or if there are construction delays on the pass. It's possible for example for the entirety of 3A from Creston to Castlegar to be bare and dry while the pass is still covered in snow and ice. 3A is also a far easier bicycle route than the Kootenay pass. This combined with people who simply wish to experience a more relaxed drive means a significant minority of ferry users in a given week are using the ferry as part of a trip all the way to or from the coast just as it was used for before the pass route was built. Major intersections The entire route is in the Central Kootenay Regional District. Keremeos-Kaleden Junction Highway A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over Richter Pass to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Subaru Ironman held each August in the Okanagan-Similkameen. The event was known as Challenge Penticton Triathlon between 2013 and 2019 when Subaru withdrew its sponsorship and moved the event to Whistler. The event was reinstated to Penticton beginning in 2022.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km (22 mi) north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route, 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Penticton. Highway 3A used to continue south along Highway 97, past Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos, but the Highway 3A/97 concurrency has since been decommissioned.Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning. Major intersections The entire route is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Richter Pass Highway For a time between 1965 and about 1967, the section of what is now Highway 3 was designated as Highway 3A The highway through Richter Pass itself opened on July 7, 1965 See also Crowsnest Highway Glass House (British Columbia) — a roadside attraction on highway 3A References External links Media related to British Columbia Highway 3A at Wikimedia Commons Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation

instance of

Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia. Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway was routed into the Kootenay Pass area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967. The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, where it leaves Highway 3 and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay, Boswell, and Wynndel to Creston, where it rejoins Highway 3.The 3A marker in Creston at the junction with the Kootenay pass route falsely advertises it as a northbound highway rather than a westbound highway although all other 3A markers properly describe it as west and eastbound just as the 3 main. The Kootenay pass is prone to closures especially during avalanche season and when it is closed Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake ferry once again becomes a vital link for all traffic on the Crowsnest highway which would otherwise completely cease to function. The ferry will operate on a 24h basis until the pass re opens. Even when the pass is open and despite the pass route being shorter some Kootenay locals still personally prefer to drive the Kootenay Lake route rather than the Salmo Creston route viewing the ferry route as a safer option especially if the weather is bad or at risk of turning bad or if there are construction delays on the pass. It's possible for example for the entirety of 3A from Creston to Castlegar to be bare and dry while the pass is still covered in snow and ice. 3A is also a far easier bicycle route than the Kootenay pass. This combined with people who simply wish to experience a more relaxed drive means a significant minority of ferry users in a given week are using the ferry as part of a trip all the way to or from the coast just as it was used for before the pass route was built. Major intersections The entire route is in the Central Kootenay Regional District. Keremeos-Kaleden Junction Highway A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over Richter Pass to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Subaru Ironman held each August in the Okanagan-Similkameen. The event was known as Challenge Penticton Triathlon between 2013 and 2019 when Subaru withdrew its sponsorship and moved the event to Whistler. The event was reinstated to Penticton beginning in 2022.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km (22 mi) north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route, 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Penticton. Highway 3A used to continue south along Highway 97, past Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos, but the Highway 3A/97 concurrency has since been decommissioned.Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning. Major intersections The entire route is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Richter Pass Highway For a time between 1965 and about 1967, the section of what is now Highway 3 was designated as Highway 3A The highway through Richter Pass itself opened on July 7, 1965 See also Crowsnest Highway Glass House (British Columbia) — a roadside attraction on highway 3A References External links Media related to British Columbia Highway 3A at Wikimedia Commons Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation

located in the administrative territorial entity

Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia. Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway was routed into the Kootenay Pass area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967. The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, where it leaves Highway 3 and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay, Boswell, and Wynndel to Creston, where it rejoins Highway 3.The 3A marker in Creston at the junction with the Kootenay pass route falsely advertises it as a northbound highway rather than a westbound highway although all other 3A markers properly describe it as west and eastbound just as the 3 main. The Kootenay pass is prone to closures especially during avalanche season and when it is closed Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake ferry once again becomes a vital link for all traffic on the Crowsnest highway which would otherwise completely cease to function. The ferry will operate on a 24h basis until the pass re opens. Even when the pass is open and despite the pass route being shorter some Kootenay locals still personally prefer to drive the Kootenay Lake route rather than the Salmo Creston route viewing the ferry route as a safer option especially if the weather is bad or at risk of turning bad or if there are construction delays on the pass. It's possible for example for the entirety of 3A from Creston to Castlegar to be bare and dry while the pass is still covered in snow and ice. 3A is also a far easier bicycle route than the Kootenay pass. This combined with people who simply wish to experience a more relaxed drive means a significant minority of ferry users in a given week are using the ferry as part of a trip all the way to or from the coast just as it was used for before the pass route was built. Major intersections The entire route is in the Central Kootenay Regional District. Keremeos-Kaleden Junction Highway A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over Richter Pass to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Subaru Ironman held each August in the Okanagan-Similkameen. The event was known as Challenge Penticton Triathlon between 2013 and 2019 when Subaru withdrew its sponsorship and moved the event to Whistler. The event was reinstated to Penticton beginning in 2022.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km (22 mi) north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route, 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Penticton. Highway 3A used to continue south along Highway 97, past Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos, but the Highway 3A/97 concurrency has since been decommissioned.Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning. Major intersections The entire route is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Richter Pass Highway For a time between 1965 and about 1967, the section of what is now Highway 3 was designated as Highway 3A The highway through Richter Pass itself opened on July 7, 1965 See also Crowsnest Highway Glass House (British Columbia) — a roadside attraction on highway 3A References External links Media related to British Columbia Highway 3A at Wikimedia Commons Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation

Commons category

Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia. Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway was routed into the Kootenay Pass area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967. The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, where it leaves Highway 3 and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay, Boswell, and Wynndel to Creston, where it rejoins Highway 3.The 3A marker in Creston at the junction with the Kootenay pass route falsely advertises it as a northbound highway rather than a westbound highway although all other 3A markers properly describe it as west and eastbound just as the 3 main. The Kootenay pass is prone to closures especially during avalanche season and when it is closed Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake ferry once again becomes a vital link for all traffic on the Crowsnest highway which would otherwise completely cease to function. The ferry will operate on a 24h basis until the pass re opens. Even when the pass is open and despite the pass route being shorter some Kootenay locals still personally prefer to drive the Kootenay Lake route rather than the Salmo Creston route viewing the ferry route as a safer option especially if the weather is bad or at risk of turning bad or if there are construction delays on the pass. It's possible for example for the entirety of 3A from Creston to Castlegar to be bare and dry while the pass is still covered in snow and ice. 3A is also a far easier bicycle route than the Kootenay pass. This combined with people who simply wish to experience a more relaxed drive means a significant minority of ferry users in a given week are using the ferry as part of a trip all the way to or from the coast just as it was used for before the pass route was built. Major intersections The entire route is in the Central Kootenay Regional District. Keremeos-Kaleden Junction Highway A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over Richter Pass to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Subaru Ironman held each August in the Okanagan-Similkameen. The event was known as Challenge Penticton Triathlon between 2013 and 2019 when Subaru withdrew its sponsorship and moved the event to Whistler. The event was reinstated to Penticton beginning in 2022.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km (22 mi) north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route, 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Penticton. Highway 3A used to continue south along Highway 97, past Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos, but the Highway 3A/97 concurrency has since been decommissioned.Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning. Major intersections The entire route is in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Richter Pass Highway For a time between 1965 and about 1967, the section of what is now Highway 3 was designated as Highway 3A The highway through Richter Pass itself opened on July 7, 1965 See also Crowsnest Highway Glass House (British Columbia) — a roadside attraction on highway 3A References External links Media related to British Columbia Highway 3A at Wikimedia Commons Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation

connects with

Idalus ochreata is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by William Schaus in 1905. It is found in French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. References Pitkin, Brian & Jenkins, Paul. "Search results Family: Arctiidae". Butterflies and Moths of the World. Natural History Museum, London.

parent taxon

Idalus ochreata is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by William Schaus in 1905. It is found in French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. References Pitkin, Brian & Jenkins, Paul. "Search results Family: Arctiidae". Butterflies and Moths of the World. Natural History Museum, London.

taxon name

Tallinn Legends (Estonian: Tallinna Legendid) is a tourist attraction in a form of theatrical and interactive museum in Tallinn, Estonia. The museum recreates historical events and legends that have contributed to the folklore of medieval Tallinn. It uses a mixture of storytelling, live performances and special effects. Overview Tallinn Legends is located at Kullassepa St. No 7, next to the oldest town hall building in Tallinn, Estonia. It occupies 600 square meters of underground space featuring 9 separate rooms with 360° themed sets and 7 actors. The museum also organizes free street shows with some of the most popular sets. Visitors are invited to enter in pre-formed groups of 15 or more with carrying capacity of more than 540 people per day. Tallinn Legends is open every day from 11 am till 20 pm and is available in the English, Estonian, Russian and Finnish languages. Format Tallinn Legend’s exhibitions contain both entertaining and educational value, as it takes visitors through 9 centuries of Estonian history in the form of theatrical performance. It recreates historical events and medieval legends associated with the city of Tallinn by making use of special lightning and sound effects, along with live performances by professional actors and mechanical dolls, video installations, and storytelling.The show incorporates events such as the Black Plague, Execution of Johann von Uexkull and construction of St. Olaf’s Church. Visitors are escorted by the actors as they move from one room to another and are encouraged to participate in the 40-minute-long show. Sets Saint Olaf’s Church (The Elevator) Maiden Tower The Black Plague Denunciation The Alchemist The Mermaid Execution of Johann von Uexkull References External links Official website

country

Tallinn Legends (Estonian: Tallinna Legendid) is a tourist attraction in a form of theatrical and interactive museum in Tallinn, Estonia. The museum recreates historical events and legends that have contributed to the folklore of medieval Tallinn. It uses a mixture of storytelling, live performances and special effects. Overview Tallinn Legends is located at Kullassepa St. No 7, next to the oldest town hall building in Tallinn, Estonia. It occupies 600 square meters of underground space featuring 9 separate rooms with 360° themed sets and 7 actors. The museum also organizes free street shows with some of the most popular sets. Visitors are invited to enter in pre-formed groups of 15 or more with carrying capacity of more than 540 people per day. Tallinn Legends is open every day from 11 am till 20 pm and is available in the English, Estonian, Russian and Finnish languages. Format Tallinn Legend’s exhibitions contain both entertaining and educational value, as it takes visitors through 9 centuries of Estonian history in the form of theatrical performance. It recreates historical events and medieval legends associated with the city of Tallinn by making use of special lightning and sound effects, along with live performances by professional actors and mechanical dolls, video installations, and storytelling.The show incorporates events such as the Black Plague, Execution of Johann von Uexkull and construction of St. Olaf’s Church. Visitors are escorted by the actors as they move from one room to another and are encouraged to participate in the 40-minute-long show. Sets Saint Olaf’s Church (The Elevator) Maiden Tower The Black Plague Denunciation The Alchemist The Mermaid Execution of Johann von Uexkull References External links Official website

instance of

Tallinn Legends (Estonian: Tallinna Legendid) is a tourist attraction in a form of theatrical and interactive museum in Tallinn, Estonia. The museum recreates historical events and legends that have contributed to the folklore of medieval Tallinn. It uses a mixture of storytelling, live performances and special effects. Overview Tallinn Legends is located at Kullassepa St. No 7, next to the oldest town hall building in Tallinn, Estonia. It occupies 600 square meters of underground space featuring 9 separate rooms with 360° themed sets and 7 actors. The museum also organizes free street shows with some of the most popular sets. Visitors are invited to enter in pre-formed groups of 15 or more with carrying capacity of more than 540 people per day. Tallinn Legends is open every day from 11 am till 20 pm and is available in the English, Estonian, Russian and Finnish languages. Format Tallinn Legend’s exhibitions contain both entertaining and educational value, as it takes visitors through 9 centuries of Estonian history in the form of theatrical performance. It recreates historical events and medieval legends associated with the city of Tallinn by making use of special lightning and sound effects, along with live performances by professional actors and mechanical dolls, video installations, and storytelling.The show incorporates events such as the Black Plague, Execution of Johann von Uexkull and construction of St. Olaf’s Church. Visitors are escorted by the actors as they move from one room to another and are encouraged to participate in the 40-minute-long show. Sets Saint Olaf’s Church (The Elevator) Maiden Tower The Black Plague Denunciation The Alchemist The Mermaid Execution of Johann von Uexkull References External links Official website

location

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

name in native language

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

place of birth

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

educated at

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

member of political party

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

occupation

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

military branch

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

family name

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

given name

Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in the Georgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representing Georgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. Early life and education Max Burns was born in Millen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Career Burns also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of the Screven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems at Georgia Southern University's College of Business Administration in Statesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Burns has also worked as a consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace and Grinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions with Oxford Industries and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia. After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president of Gordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017. Elections 2002 Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the 2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley. Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate, Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr., son of state Senate majority leader Charles Walker, Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent. 2004 Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the 2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent was Athens-Clarke County Commissioner John Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%. 2006 In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic. Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties, Chatham and Richmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. President George W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns. The first appearance by President Bush was in Savannah, Georgia and the second in Statesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia. Electoral history References External links Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C-SPAN "Curb Your Enthusiasm" — The Rothenberg Political Report

work location

Phủ Thông is a township (Thị trấn) and capital town of Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.

country

Phủ Thông is a township (Thị trấn) and capital town of Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.

located in the administrative territorial entity

Northern Air Charter is a small airline based in Peace River, Alberta, Canada. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic it provided scheduled services to Edmonton International Airport and Calgary International Airport. The airline provides charter services throughout North America Destinations As of February 2023, Northern Air serves the following destinations in Alberta: Calgary (Calgary International Airport) Bonnyville (Bonnyville Airport) Fleet Current As of 26 February 2023, Northern Air Charter has the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada. Historical Aircraft previously operated by Northern Air Charter not included above: Beechcraft Queen Air (Model 65) Beechcraft King Air (Model 100) Beechcraft 1900 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander Cessna 150 Cessna 172 Cessna 185 Skywagon Cessna 208 Cessna 210 Centurion de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Piper PA-23 Piper PA-28 Cherokee Piper PA-31 Navajo References External links Northern Air

instance of

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

country of citizenship

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

occupation

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

sport

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

family name

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

given name

Georgia Nesbitt (born 8 May 1992, in Tasmania) is an Australian representative lightweight rower. She is an eight-time national champion (winning three titles at the 2019 Australian Championships) and she won a silver medal at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Club and state rowing Nesbitt's senior rowing has been from the Huon Rowing Club in southern Tasmania. Nesbitt first made state selection for Tasmania in 2011 in the women's lightweight quad scull contesting the Victoria Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships. She made five consecutive Victoria Cup appearances for Tasmania from 2011 to 2015, was in victorious Tasmanian quads in 2014 and 2015 and she stroked the 2014 crew. Tasmania did not enter a Victoria Cup quad in 2017 but in 2018 Nesbitt was back in the stroke seat for their third placing at the Interstate Regatta. In 2022 she again stroked the Tasmania women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory. At the Australian Championships in 2015 she won the national lightweight single sculls title. At the 2019 Australian Championships she won three national titles - the women's lightweight single scull, the lightweight double scull (with her Huon clubmate Eve Mure) and she stroked the Tasmanian lightweight women's quad to victory for the Interstate Championship. In 2021 she again stroked the Tasmanian women's lightweight quad to a Victoria Cup victory and also won an Australian Championship title in the open lightweight women's single scull. International representative rowing Nesbitt made her Australian representative debut in 2013 in an U23 lightweight double scull. She rowed with Georgia Miansarow to a fifth place at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Linz. That same year with Miansarow, Hannah Clarke and Alex Hayes she was selected in the Australian senior lightweight quad scull which raced at 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju to fifth place.In 2014 still paired with Miansarow she raced in the lightweight double scull at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to fifth place. Then at the 2014 World Rowing U23 Championships in Varese the two Georgias rowed the double to a bronze medal.In 2015 she competed at the World Championships in Aiguebelette in a single scull where she finished in eight place.Nesbitt was back in Australian representative contention in 2017. She rowed in the lightweight double at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan to sixth place and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Amy James, Alice Arch and Miansarow they raced in both the lightweight and the heavyweight quad events, winning the lightweight. They were in ready form for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota where they rowed to a second placing and a silver medal.That crew stayed together into 2018. They raced as two doubles at the WRC II in Linz where the Georgias finished 14th and then at the WRC III in Lucerne with Arch changed out for Sarah Pound, they placed fifth. In. 2019 Nesbitt was again selected in Australia's lightweight sculling squad for the 2019 international season. She rowed to success in the single scull at the two World Rowing Cups in Europe, winning a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and then silver at WRC III in Rotterdam. Nesbitt was then selected to race Australia's lightweight double scull with Sarah Pound at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The double were looking for a top seven finish at the 2019 World Championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They placed third in the B-final for an overall ninth-place finish and failed to qualify the boat for Tokyo 2020. Before those delayed Tokyo Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2021 and again paired with Pound, she raced an Australian representative lightweight double, again attempting to qualify that boat. They made their final, finished in 6th place and missed the Olympic cut-off.In March 2022 Nesbitt was selected in the Australian training team to prepare for the 2022 international season and the 2022 World Rowing Championships. She rowed the lightweight women's single scull at both of the World Rowing Cups in June and July 2022, winning a silver medal at WRC III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championships at Racize, Nesbitt represented as Australia's lightweight women's single sculler, made the C final and finished the regatta in overall seventeenth place. Administration A qualified solicitor, in 2023 Nesbitt was appointed to the board of Rowing Tasmania. References Georgia Nesbitt at World Rowing

name in native language

Alecu Russo (March 17, 1819 near Chișinău – February 5, 1859 in Iași), was a Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist. Russo is credited with having discovered one of the most elaborate forms of the Romanian national folk ballad Miorița. He was also a contributor to the Iași periodical Zimbrul, in which he published one of his best-known works, Studie Moldovană ("Moldovan Studies"), in 1851–1852. He also wrote Iașii și locuitorii lui în 1840 ("Iași and its inhabitants in 1840"), a glimpse into Moldavian society during the Organic Statute administration, and two travel accounts (better described as folklore studies), Piatra Teiului and Stânca Corbului. Russo is also notable for his Amintiri ("Recollections"), a memoir, and for the prose poem Cântarea României. Both these works appeared in 1855 in Vasile Alecsandri's literary magazine, România Literară. He died shortly before the age of 40. His cause of death is recorded as troahnă, usually denoting influenza, but sometimes a euphemism for tuberculosis. He was buried with great pomp at the Bărboi Church, in Iași. Presence in anthologies The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu. A collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova, bilingual English & Romanian, Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud and Rochelle Bews, MediaTon, Toronto, Canada, 2018. ISBN 978-1-7751837-9-2 Notes External links Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions:Alecu Russo

place of birth

Alecu Russo (March 17, 1819 near Chișinău – February 5, 1859 in Iași), was a Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist. Russo is credited with having discovered one of the most elaborate forms of the Romanian national folk ballad Miorița. He was also a contributor to the Iași periodical Zimbrul, in which he published one of his best-known works, Studie Moldovană ("Moldovan Studies"), in 1851–1852. He also wrote Iașii și locuitorii lui în 1840 ("Iași and its inhabitants in 1840"), a glimpse into Moldavian society during the Organic Statute administration, and two travel accounts (better described as folklore studies), Piatra Teiului and Stânca Corbului. Russo is also notable for his Amintiri ("Recollections"), a memoir, and for the prose poem Cântarea României. Both these works appeared in 1855 in Vasile Alecsandri's literary magazine, România Literară. He died shortly before the age of 40. His cause of death is recorded as troahnă, usually denoting influenza, but sometimes a euphemism for tuberculosis. He was buried with great pomp at the Bărboi Church, in Iași. Presence in anthologies The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu. A collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova, bilingual English & Romanian, Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud and Rochelle Bews, MediaTon, Toronto, Canada, 2018. ISBN 978-1-7751837-9-2 Notes External links Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions:Alecu Russo

place of death

Alecu Russo (March 17, 1819 near Chișinău – February 5, 1859 in Iași), was a Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist. Russo is credited with having discovered one of the most elaborate forms of the Romanian national folk ballad Miorița. He was also a contributor to the Iași periodical Zimbrul, in which he published one of his best-known works, Studie Moldovană ("Moldovan Studies"), in 1851–1852. He also wrote Iașii și locuitorii lui în 1840 ("Iași and its inhabitants in 1840"), a glimpse into Moldavian society during the Organic Statute administration, and two travel accounts (better described as folklore studies), Piatra Teiului and Stânca Corbului. Russo is also notable for his Amintiri ("Recollections"), a memoir, and for the prose poem Cântarea României. Both these works appeared in 1855 in Vasile Alecsandri's literary magazine, România Literară. He died shortly before the age of 40. His cause of death is recorded as troahnă, usually denoting influenza, but sometimes a euphemism for tuberculosis. He was buried with great pomp at the Bărboi Church, in Iași. Presence in anthologies The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu. A collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova, bilingual English & Romanian, Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud and Rochelle Bews, MediaTon, Toronto, Canada, 2018. ISBN 978-1-7751837-9-2 Notes External links Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions:Alecu Russo

field of work

Alecu Russo (March 17, 1819 near Chișinău – February 5, 1859 in Iași), was a Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist. Russo is credited with having discovered one of the most elaborate forms of the Romanian national folk ballad Miorița. He was also a contributor to the Iași periodical Zimbrul, in which he published one of his best-known works, Studie Moldovană ("Moldovan Studies"), in 1851–1852. He also wrote Iașii și locuitorii lui în 1840 ("Iași and its inhabitants in 1840"), a glimpse into Moldavian society during the Organic Statute administration, and two travel accounts (better described as folklore studies), Piatra Teiului and Stânca Corbului. Russo is also notable for his Amintiri ("Recollections"), a memoir, and for the prose poem Cântarea României. Both these works appeared in 1855 in Vasile Alecsandri's literary magazine, România Literară. He died shortly before the age of 40. His cause of death is recorded as troahnă, usually denoting influenza, but sometimes a euphemism for tuberculosis. He was buried with great pomp at the Bărboi Church, in Iași. Presence in anthologies The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu. A collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova, bilingual English & Romanian, Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud and Rochelle Bews, MediaTon, Toronto, Canada, 2018. ISBN 978-1-7751837-9-2 Notes External links Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions:Alecu Russo

occupation

Alecu Russo (March 17, 1819 near Chișinău – February 5, 1859 in Iași), was a Moldavian Romanian writer, literary critic and publicist. Russo is credited with having discovered one of the most elaborate forms of the Romanian national folk ballad Miorița. He was also a contributor to the Iași periodical Zimbrul, in which he published one of his best-known works, Studie Moldovană ("Moldovan Studies"), in 1851–1852. He also wrote Iașii și locuitorii lui în 1840 ("Iași and its inhabitants in 1840"), a glimpse into Moldavian society during the Organic Statute administration, and two travel accounts (better described as folklore studies), Piatra Teiului and Stânca Corbului. Russo is also notable for his Amintiri ("Recollections"), a memoir, and for the prose poem Cântarea României. Both these works appeared in 1855 in Vasile Alecsandri's literary magazine, România Literară. He died shortly before the age of 40. His cause of death is recorded as troahnă, usually denoting influenza, but sometimes a euphemism for tuberculosis. He was buried with great pomp at the Bărboi Church, in Iași. Presence in anthologies The Bessarabia of my Soul / Basarabia Sufletului meu. A collection of poetry from the Republic of Moldova, bilingual English & Romanian, Daniel Ioniță and Maria Tonu (editors), with Eva Foster, Daniel Reynaud and Rochelle Bews, MediaTon, Toronto, Canada, 2018. ISBN 978-1-7751837-9-2 Notes External links Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions:Alecu Russo

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