Last but not least: Comte's gift horse

 The 14-year-old nude picture of the current Madame Sarkozy caused a huge stir last week. British tabloids printed it in large print in time for the island visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his sweetheart Carla Bruni. The nude picture, shot by star photographer Michel Comte as a safer sex campaign, is now to go under the hammer - but the proceeds will not go to Beat Richner's Cambodian children's hospital Kantha Bopha, as reported by Die Bunte and the Sonntag newspaper. Richner did confirm to SDA that he had received a corresponding offer. However, he declined "out of respect for the French and Cambodian governments". There would probably have been a lot to be gained: Comte expects a six-figure sum to be realized for his painting. However, Richner, whose hospital is in great need of donations, does not want to be associated with this particular photo. If he were to accept money from the proceeds of a photo of the naked French president's wife, it would degrade his institution. Note that Richner is a pediatrician, not a veterinarian. But he's certainly smart enough to look a gift horse in the mouth.