Groping outlawed
The week's news at a glance.
Rome
Italy’s high court ruled this week that grabbing a woman’s behind was a form of sexual assault. The finding was a reversal of the court’s ruling two years ago, when it said that an unwanted smack or pinch on the bottom was acceptable if it was “an isolated or impulsive act.” That ruling caused international outrage and galvanized Italian women’s groups to lobby the government. Italian women welcomed the new no-touching rule, but they didn’t think it would make notoriously grabby Italian males keep their hands to themselves. “It won’t change the way they behave because I don’t think girls often go to the police over this kind of thing,” Tara Londi told the BBC. “A slap in the face is always better.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The bougie foods causing international shortages
In the Spotlight Pistachios join avocados and matcha on list of social media-driven crazes that put strain on supply chains and environment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Strep infections are rising in the US
Under the radar The cases have more than doubled in 10 years
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Sudoku medium: April 22, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff