Picture desk live: the day's best news images

The stage is set, the Olympic rings are in place on the Tyne bridge as Newcastle prepares for the torch relay coming through the city on Friday Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

The Lock by John Constable is displayed at Christie's auction house in London. Leading the Masterpieces at Christie's free public exhibition, which launches one of its summer auction seasons, the painting is expected to fetch between £20m and £25m when it goes under the hammer on 3 July Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

ArcelorMittal workers from Florange, France, demonstrate in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling for the steel giant to resume operations at their plant. The management at ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, have said they will keep the furnaces shut until at least the end of the year due to continuing poor demand in Europe Photograph: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

A resident walks barefoot through the smouldering remains of a burned house in Sittwe, Burma. Dozens of people have been killed in a surge of sectarian violence in the region where a state of emergency has been declared Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of protesters chanting 'Russia will be free' take part in a rally in Moscow against President Vladimir Putin's third term despite a police crackdown on their leaders on Monday Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile Putin and the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, share a convivial moment in the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow, during a reception marking Russia Day which celebrates the 1990 declaration of independence from Soviet rule Photograph: Dmitry Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images

More Russians in the news ... this couple dressed as astronauts get into the spirit of the Euro 2012 football championships before the match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Paddling their own canoe has become an option for these residents of Felpham, near Bognor Regis in West Sussex, after south-east England and mid Wales were hit by flooding. The wet weather is forecast to continue for the coming days, and may become worse towards the end of the week Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Thaminah Sadiq, seven, works in a brick factory on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan as World Day Against Child Labour is observed to raise awareness and hopefully contribute to the end of child labour Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

This spectacular shot shows nine-times cliff diving world champion Orlando Duque, of Colombia, diving 23 metres from a helicopter next to Ashford Castle in Cong, west Ireland. The dive was part of a training session ahead of the 2012 world series, which begins in Corsica, France, later in June Photograph: Dean Treml/AFP/Getty Images

An armed tribesman attends a gathering aimed at resolving local feuds in Arhab district, north of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa Photograph: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

Despite grave fears for his health Venezuela's president, Hugo Chàvez, greets thousands of supporters wearing his signature red beret and blowing kisses to the crowd as he formalises his candidacy and launches his re-election bid in Caracas Photograph: Leo Ramirez/AFP/Getty Images

Today we have been given a glimpse of plans for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games planned by artistic director Danny Boyle. While it may resemble something made in the Blue Peter studio, it is in fact a recreation of the British countryside Photograph: LOCOG

The former British prime minister John Major arrives to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry. He told the hearing: 'The press to me at the time was a source of wonder' Photograph: Olivia Harris/Reuters

A model shows a colourful creation from the FH by Fause Haten collection during São Paulo fashion week Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Wearing a Soviet flag, this caped crusader is on his way to an anti-government protest in Moscow. Thousands of Russians said they would defy Kremlin pressure and attend a march in Moscow to protest against President Vladimir Putin Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

A helicopter drops water on a hotspot of the High Park fire burning close to homes near Laporte, Colorado. The wildfire has already destroyed around 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) and is still raging Photograph: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images

Confiscated weapons due to be melted down for scrap at a steel plant on the outskirt of Kunming, in Yunnan province, China, are part of a national purge on illegal weapons Photograph: Wong Campion/Reuters