is under construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; killing 50 workers and injuring 150. December 23 – Hilkka Saarinen née Pylkkänen was murdered in the so-called the "oven homicide" case in Krootila, Kokemäki, Finland. World population World population: 3,021,475,000 Africa: 277,398,000 Asia: 1,701,336,000 Europe: 604,401,000 Latin America: 218,300,000 North America: 204,152,000 Oceania: 15,888,000 Births January January 2 – Naoki Urasawa, Japanese manga author and artist January 4 Michael Stipe, American rock singer (R.E.M.) April Winchell, American writer and voice actress January 6 Natalia Bestemianova, Soviet ice dancer, 1988 Olympic Champion Kari Jalonen, Finnish ice hockey player Nigella Lawson, English journalist, broadcaster, television personality, gourmet and food writer Miriam O'Callaghan, Irish media personality January 7 – Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian politician, diplomat January 10 Jurrie Koolhof, Dutch footballer and manager (d. 2019) Negro Casas, Mexican professional wrestler Brian Cowen, Taoiseach of Ireland January 12 Oliver Platt, Canadian actor Dominique Wilkins, French-born American basketball player January 16 Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar, Malaysian politician, architect and entrepreneur (d. 2016) Richard Elliot, Scottish-born American saxophonist January 18 – Mark Rylance, English actor, theatre director and playwright January 20 Sabar Koti, Indian singer (d. 2018) Will Wright, American computer game designer January 21 – Mamoru Nagano, Japanese designer January 22 – Michael Hutchence, Australian rock musician (INXS) (d. 1997) January 23 – Patrick de Gayardon, French skydiver and skysurfing pioneer (d. 1998) January 27 – Samia Suluhu, President of Tanzania January 29 Gia Carangi, American model (d. 1986) Sean Kerly, British field hockey player Greg Louganis, American diver January 31 – Grant Morrison, Scottish comic book writer and playwright February February 2 – Jari Porttila, Finnish sports journalist February 3 – Joachim Löw, German football manager February 4 – Jonathan Larson, American composer and playwright (d. 1996) February 7 Yasunori Matsumoto, Japanese voice actor James Spader, American actor and producer February 8 Benigno Aquino III, 15th President of the Philippines (d. 2021) Alfred Gusenbauer, Chancellor of Austria February 9 – Frederik Ndoci, Albanian singer, songwriter, poet, writer, actor and international Recording artist February 13 – Pierluigi Collina, Italian football (soccer) referee February 14 Olivia Cheng, Hong Kong actress Meg Tilly, American-Canadian actress and novelist February 16 – Tineke Huizinga, Dutch politician February 18 Gazebo, Italian musician Tony Anselmo, American animator and voice actor February 19 – Prince Andrew, Duke of York, British prince and second son of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh February