Picture desk live: the day's best news images

Anti-government protesters at a bus stop in Sanabis, Bahrain Photograph: Hasan Jamali/AP

A bride's pensive moment during the Akshaya Tritiya festival in Madhya Pradesh, India Photograph: Sanjeev Gupta/EPA

Firefighters attempt to bring a blaze under control at a scrap yard in Willesden, London
Photograph: Paul Davey/Demotix/Corbis

Medical students run away from tear gas in La Paz, Bolivia. The students had been holding a demonstration in support of public doctors on strike Photograph: Juan Karita/AP

Russell Brand rocked up to Portcullis House in Westminster today to give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee which is looking into drugs policy Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

Take a moment in your day to really enjoy this magnificent display of blossom in Harrogate, North Yorkshire Photograph: John Giles/PA

Nicolas Sarkozy visits the city centre of Longjumeau, south of Paris on his presidential election campaign trail. Do you think someone said this is a magic melon, make three wishes ...? Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

The Cutty Sark, a 19th-century tea clipper, is due to reopen to the public later this week, 2012 after an extensive restoration. The project was severely damaged by fire back in May 2007 but the result is perhaps beyond her former glory Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

James Murdoch adjusts his tie as he arrives at the high court to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry. His evidence so far has consisted mainly of 'I don't recall' Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Rupert Murdoch seems to have fixed his grin before leaving his home in Mayfair, central London. He is due to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry on Wednesday Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Sudanese soldiers strike a pose on a tank seized from South Sudanese fighters in the oil region of Heglig. The Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, has said there will be no more talks with South Sudan after weeks of border fighting and tension between the two states Photograph: Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images

Popocatepetl gives a spectacular display in the Mexican central state of Puebla, but residents at the foot of the volcano can no longer sleep soundly since it erupted back into action more than a week ago, spewing out a hail of rocks, steam and ashes Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Every dog has its day and this fellow is patiently waiting to appear in this year's international dog show in Kiev, Ukraine Photograph: East News /Rex Features

Riot police make good use of shields during a rain shower in Bogota's Plaza de Bolivar outside a gathering of supporters of Colombia's new leftist political and social movement the National Patriotic Council Photograph: Guillermo Legaria/AFP/Getty Images

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, seems to have something on her mind as she waits for the arrival of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg at the Chancellery in Berlin Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters