What Happened on February 9, 2020

Historical Events

Academy Awards

92nd Academy Awards: "Parasite" 1st non English film to win Best Picture, Best Director Bong Joon-ho, Best Actor Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actress Renée Zellweger

Deaths from COVID-19 virus overtake those of Sars (2003) with 813 deaths worldwide, with more than 34,800 known infections
Fastest conventional plane flight from New York to London made by British Airways Boeing 747-436 in 4 hours and 56 minutes; average speed of 1,327 km/h / 825 mph, aided by tailwinds from due to Storm Ciara
Solar Orbiter probe attached to an Atlas rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral
Storm Ciara makes landfall in northern Scotland bringing widespread wind and flooding to northern Europe resulting in 18 deaths
Suspected militants attack and kill at least 30 people, many while sleeping in their cars in Auno, north-eastern Nigeria, kidnapping women and children

Events in 2020

Famous Deaths

(Doris) "Sorrel" Hays, American pianist and composer (The Glass Woman), dies of cancer at 78
Mirella Freni, Italian lyric soprano (Madame Butterfly), dies at 84
Sergei Slonimsky, Russian composer and pianist, dies at 87

Died in 2020 2020 Highlights