IUSA

Court convicts Google execs

Wednesday, Feb. 24,2010 6:47 p.m.

An Italian court convicted three Google executives of privacy violations Wednesday for not acting quickly enough to remove an online video showing bullies abusing an autistic boy. In the first criminal trial of its kind, Judge Oscar Magi sentenced the men to six-month suspended sentences and absolved them of defamation charges. A fourth defendant, charged only with defamation, was acquitted.

Woman sentenced to prison for lying about gang rape

Wednesday, Feb. 24,2010 6:46 p.m.

A woman who fabricated a gang rape accusation was sentenced Tuesday to up to three years behind bars. Biurny Peguero, 27, pled guilty in December to perjury, admitting she made up the September 2005 incident that imprisoned William McCaffrey for nearly four years. A judge overturned his conviction, with new DNA evidence.

Pancake Day: the British Mardi Gras

By Caitlin Ryan · Wednesday, Feb. 24,2010 6:45 p.m.

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras festivities mark the last day before the official start of Lent. In Spain, the week-long Carnival festival ushers in the season. It’s all about Fat Tuesday — the day where it’s OK to indulge in your favorite things, as you’re about to give up excesses for the next 40 days. In the United Kingdom, “Shrove Tuesday” is more affectionately known as Pancake Day, following a longstanding Catholic tradition of using up indulgent ingredients in the kitchen, such as fat, butter and eggs, by cooking a food that contains all three — pancakes.