Best photographs of the day: a polar bear in Norway and sidecar racing in South Africa

The Guardian’s picture editors bring you a selection of photo highlights from around the world, including Hillary Clinton’s new campaign plane and protestors occupying a road in Calais.

Leah McLaren

Main image: A polar bear looks across the ice as it bends down towards the water Photograph: Andy Rouse/Barcroft Images

  • Calais, France

    A group of protestors made up of lorry drivers, farmers and local residents block a motorway to demand the closure of the Calais migrant camp known as the jungle.
    Protestors block the motorway leading to Calais and the Channel tunnel

  • Svalbard, Norway

    A polar bear crouches down on the ice in the Svalbard islands in the Arctic ocean, halfway between Norway and the north pole.
    A polar bear crouches down on the ice in the Svalbard islands

  • Hangzhou, China

    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, exchange stern looks during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
    Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama meet at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China

  • Vientiane, Laos

    A group of musicians pose with their khaens, a bamboo woodwind instrument, prior to performing at the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
    A group of musicians pose with their khaens, a bamboo woodwind instrument, prior to performing at the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vientiane Laos.

  • Acapulco, Mexico

    A car sits at the bottom of a sinkhole that opened up after heavy rains lashed the Pacific coastal resort.
    A car sits at the bottom of a sinkhole that opened up after heavy rains lashed the Pacific coastal resort of Acapulco, Mexico.

  • London, England

    It’s enough to make your head spin. The photographer Katherine Young set out to shoot spiral staircases to great effect, including this shot she calls the Downward Spiral Part III.
    An elaborate spiral staircase in London

  • Valencia, Spain

    A helicopter drops fire retardant over Villes del Vent in Benitachell, where a wildfire has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and holidaymakers.
    A helicopter drops fire retardant over Villes del Vent in Benitachell, near Valencia, Spain, where a wildfire has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and holidaymakers.

  • London, England

    The shoes of the Labour party leadership contender Owen Smith are seen as he speaks at a press conference.
    The shoes of the Labour party leadership contender Owen Smith are seen as he speaks at a press conference in London.

  • Johannesburg, South Africa

    A sidecar racer hangs off a motorbike during a race at the Walkerville Dirt Oval.
    A sidecar racer hangs off the side of a motorbike during a race at the Walkerville Dirt Oval in Johannesburg, South Africa

  • New York, USA

    The new campaign plane that will be used by the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, sits on the tarmac at Westchester County airport in White Plains.
    The new campaign plane that will be used by the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, sits on the tarmac at Westchester County airport in White Plains, New York

  • Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    Thousands of Muslims circle the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque as part of the annual hajj pilgrimage.
    Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca

  • Beijing, China

    A man browses his smartphone in front of a billboard for a foreign fashion boutique at a shopping mall.
    A man browses his smartphone in front of a billboard for a foreign fashion boutique at a shopping mall
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