Picture desk live: the day's best news images

A TV grab from state-owned French television station France 2 showing the debate between Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy for the 2012 French presidential election campaign Photograph: France 2 / Handout/EPA

Socialist Party supporters watch live TV debate as their presidential candiate Francois Hollande takes on current president Nicolas Sarkozy Photograph: Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images

Fabrice Muamba leaves the Reebok Stadium after making an emotional return at the kick off in Bolton on Wednesday Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Nicole Kidman finds herself a million miles away from Hollywood in Bo'ness near Falkirk in Scotland. She and co-star Colin Firth are filming The Railway Man, a true story of a British officer captured by the Japanese during the second world war and forced to work on the infamous Burma railway Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Kate and Gerry McCann speak in front of an age-progressed police image of their daughter Madeleine during a news conference to mark the fifth anniversary of her disappearance. The McCanns say there is 'no doubt' authorities will reopen the investigation into their daughter's disappearance. Three-year-old Madeleine went missing while on holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of Portugal in May 2007 Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

It's been the subject of controversy but artist Henry Bruce's latest project is really quite pretty in pink. As part of the art and sculpture exhibition at Delamore Estate, Bruce has painted a massive skeletal 21-metre high oak tree to celebrate the beauty of nature and the evolving life of trees Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un receives a round of applause from military personnel during his visit to the machine plant managed by Ho Chol Yong in North Korea, to mark May Day. Bravo! Photograph: AP

Labour leader Ed Miliband strikes a pose for the cameras with shoppers and local people in Harlow, Essex, on the last day of campaigning before Thursday's local elections Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Queen's delight at meeting a police horse named after first world war veteran Harry Patch is apparent during a visit to Nine Springs Park in Yeovil. The trip was part of her diamond jubilee tour of the UK Photograph: Chris Jackson/PA

In Exeter schoolchildren waiting to meet the Queen have the ultimate royal accessory: the (inflatable) corgi dog Photograph: Ben Bichall/PA

Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone chats with a band of enthusiastic supporters and greets prospective voters as he campaigns in Hammersmith on the last day before elections Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

Violence erupts in the Abbasiya district of Cairo where an anti-military protest near the defence ministry came under attack. At least 20 people were killed in the clashes and many more injured, according to reports Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng in a wheelchair at the Chaoyang hospital in Beijing following his remarkable escape from house arrest. He had accepted a deal to stay in China, after authorities promised he would be safe. However, it has emerged that his decision was influenced by threats to beat his wife to death Photograph: Jordan Pouille/AFP/Getty Images

Chinese police deliver a firm message to foreign journalists at the gate of Chaoyang hospital in Beijing, where Chen Guangcheng is being treated Photograph: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi steps forward to take her place in parliament, under the watchful eye of military representatives Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

In a historic moment, Aung San Suu Kyi takes her oath along with colleagues in the lower house of parliament in Naypyitaw after nearly a quarter of a century of political struggle against oppressive military rule in the country Photograph: Reuters

Smoke billows from a compound under attack as Kabul suffers a series of explosions in protest at the surprise visit of the US president, Barack Obama. A suicide car bomber and Taliban militants disguised in burqas attacked the compound housing hundreds of foreigners in the Afghan capital Photograph: Musadeq Sadeq/AP

This singing traveller is a member of the Nairobi Chamber Chorus, which has arrived in the UK to perform before the Queen at her diamond jubilee pageant next week. The choir treated passengers to an impromptu performance on landing at Heathrow Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Is Belgium's finance minister, Steven Vanackere, dazzling his colleagues with a tap dance? No, he's just side-stepping a photographer as fellow finance ministers – from left, Sweden's Anders Borg, Ireland's Michael Noonan, Spain's Luis de Guindos and Poland's Jacek Rostowski – look on during a meeting in Brussels Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

The Gateshead Millennium bridge and the Sage music centre in Newcastle look enchanting in this photograph by Owen Humphreys. Taken on Tuesday night and shot with a tilt and shift lens, the view has such a magical quality Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

It's a triumph over tragedy as the stolen penguin Dirk returns to the safety of his enclosure at Sea World on the Gold Coast in Australia. A couple of British backpackers have been fined for a late-night prank in which they abducted the male fairy penguin. The couple told the court that the effect of drinking 1.5 litres of vodka was to blame Photograph: Tony Bartlett/EPA

This little scout has been taking part in a parade marking International Workers' Day in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos Photograph: Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters