Obama? "Bello, giovane e abbronzato."

NEW YORK--(Italy Watch)--The Italian press is reporting that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the only member of the G7 that did not receive a telephone call from Barack Obama post-election.

The slight is being attributed to Berlusconi's perceived racial gaffe.

In a press conference a day after America elected its first black president, Silvio Berlusconi called Barack Obama "handsome, young and suntanned... ...so I think we will work well together." The word, abbronzato -- suntanned -- and the entire phrase, is not being taken or translated particularly well by the Italian and foreign media.

In addition to speaking with all of the G7 members, notably a lengthy conversation with French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy whose country holds the 6-month rotating EU presidency, U.S. president-elect Barack Obama also telephoned the leaders of Israel, Mexico, South Korea, and Australia.

Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq two days after his April 17, 2004 election, also made the "do not call list," with the European press reporting that he was not privy to Obama's first round of telephone cordialities.

Budget Cuts Planned to Italy's Schools

NEW YORK--(Italy Watch)--The Italian government, per Mariastella Gelmini, recently proposed massive budget cuts to its schools and universities, affecting 87,000 professors and 44,000 researchers. The cuts also affect maintenance of the building's structures.

Walter Veltroni, the leader of Italy's center-left Democratic party (PD), and Italy's opposition candidate, has promised to have the decree repealed.

One controversial addition to the proposed educational reform bill calls for "foreign students" to be taught in different classrooms, in the afternoon for intensive language classes. While many see intensive language classes as having a positive effect on the long-term education system, Gelmini was nevertheless forced to defend herself after claims of racism were lodged against her.

Gelmini has stated: "Racism has nothing to do with it. This has to do with integration. A little child, if he doesn't know the language, he learns it immediately. But a 10-year old, newly arrived in Italia, they will lag behind..."