5 things you need to know Friday
1. It's World Mental Health Day — and the U.S. still has 40,000 suicides each year
Every 13 minutes, someone in the U.S. commits suicide. The nearly 40,000 American lives lost each year make suicide the nation's 10th-leading cause of death, and the second-leading killer for those ages 15-34. On Friday, the World Health Organization sponsors World Mental Health Day to raise awareness about mental health issues around the world and focus efforts on supporting those afflicted. It is held every year on Oct. 10, and this year's theme focuses on living with schizophrenia.
2. Committee on Homeland Security holds hearing in Dallas airport to discuss Ebola response
The committee, led by Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, will hold a hearing in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Friday to work out an appropriate response on federal, state and local levels. Following the death of Thomas Eric Duncan — the first person killed by the Ebola virus in the United States — officials throughout the country have been taking steps to ensure the disease does not spread nationwide. Five airports, not including Dallas/Fort Worth, have committed to enhancing screenings for Ebola.
3. Nobel Peace Prize awarded
Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi won the 95th Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work promoting education rights for children in a year that has been anything but peaceful. The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited the two "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education."
4. IMF and World Bank hold Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will come together for their yearly Annual Meeting starting Friday to discuss "issues of global concern" in the economic sector. The weekend-long series of meetings brings leaders from both organizations and a number of leaders from around the world.
5. Landon Donovan kicks professional soccer career as he plays his final game
One of Los Angeles Galaxy's stars is about to dim, as Landon Donovan prepares for his last game on Friday as a professional player. It will be an appropriately grand occasion, complete with banners and tributes and videos and speeches and, in all likelihood, a few trickles of tears from arguably America's best soccer player ever. He will only play 30 minutes of the game.
Bonus! North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un failed to show up Friday for a key political anniversary in Pyongyang, fueling further speculation about his whereabouts. Kim has not been seen in public since Sept. 3.
And, the essentials:
Weather: The USA's weather Friday will be divided into four parts: Rainy in the center, cool in the north, hot in the South, and mild and dry in the West.
Stocks: Asia markets fell sharply after Wall Street's plunge.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch this weekend? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at The Walking Dead and CSI.
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Contributing: Gregg Zoroya, Paste BN