It's Friday, CTV News has 5 things you need to know before the weekend sets in: Today is the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide; Omar Khadr is in court to hear if he can be released on bail; Apple’s latest gadget – a watch – will hit the market today; a social media post has resulted in harassment charges in Montreal; and Dr. Oz is fighting back after colleagues asked he be removed from his post at Columbia University. In addition to your daily news fix, on this Fun Friday we have a quiz to test your knowledge on the Hubble Telescope which turns 25 today.
1. Centenary of the Armenian genocide: Today marks 100 years since the beginning of the Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks in the early years of the First World War. A century later, members of the global Armenian diaspora are taking to social media to share photos and stories of family members who were affected by the genocide. An American-Armenian photographer is also set to release a book of stunning images from Armenian communities in 22 different countries, “to show our survival.”
2. Omar Khadr's bail application: Former Guantanamo Bay inmate Omar Khadr will learn the fate of his bail application today. An Edmonton judge is set to render her decision on whether she has the authority to grant bail to a Canadian appealing a conviction by a foreign court. If she finds the Canadian court can make a decision – and if she agrees that Khadr should be released – lawyers will return to court to decide his bail conditions.
3. Apple Watch lands on wrists: Apple officially makes its highly anticipated foray into the smart-watch market today. In a decidedly different kind of launch, the Apple Watch will available for purchase online or by reservation in retail locations. The cheapest model is priced at $699, while a top-of-the-line edition will set you back a cool $19,000. And Apple has given customers a wide array of choices, allowing users to customize the size, body and band, resulting in 54 total configurations. Early reviews have been mixed, but there's still a high demand for Apple's latest gadget.
4. Social media brings charges: A Montreal woman who posted a picture of a senior Montreal police officer with a bullet in his head was convicted on Thursday of criminal harassment. The Judge who convicted the woman stated that people need to understand that what they post online can have consequences.
5. Dr. Oz fights back: After a group of doctors demanded that Columbia University remove Dr. Mehmet Oz from his faculty position there, the controversial TV star is fighting back. Oz devoted the first half of his show on Thursday to respond to what he called "a brazen letter from 10 mysterious doctors.” Oz has been strongly criticized for “quack treatments” and dubious science promoted on his show.
And one more thing for Fun Friday…
Twenty-five years ago, the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope changed the way we see the universe. The telescope has captured hundreds of thousands of beautiful images of our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy and beyond. To see how much you know about the Hubble, take our quiz.
