The Observer's 20 photographs of the week

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gets an enthusiastic welcome at the defence ministry in Pyongyang Photograph: KNS/AFP

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final Angelus prayer from the window of his apartments at the Vatican at the end of a week-long spiritual retreat Photograph: Osservatore Romano/AFP

At Milan Fashion Week, Dolce & Gabbana's designs made reference to religion and romanticism Photograph: Giuseppe Aresu/AP

Next was Paris Fashion Week. Here, a model presents a creation by Nicolas Andreas Taralis Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP

Best actress winner Jennifer Lawrence falls as she walks up the steps to accept the award at the Academy Awards Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP

She finally made it to the stage at the Dolby Theatre to accept the award Photograph: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

The United Nations Human Rights Council began in Geneva with Syria, North Korea and Mali the top items on the agenda Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Dachshunds sit in their positions for the performance installation 'Dachshund UN' in Toronto, where the dogs were used to mimic a United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Australian artist Bennett Miller created the show to question the potential for creating a universal justice system Photograph: Michelle Siu/AP

Shipyard workers listen as Barack Obama speaks at Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia. He visited the yard to highlight the impact the reductions in federal funding will have on jobs. The cuts fall evenly on non-defence and defence spending, with states such as Virginia, heavily dependent on Pentagon contracts, expected to be hardest hit Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

A report this week revealed that Greece's annual GDP is set to contract by 4.5% this year. Here, a homeless man sleeps on an air vent above an metro station to warm up in Omonia Square, central Athens Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP

A boy holds a Kurdish flag in Ras al-Ayn, Syria. The UN says more than 70,000 people have been killed since Syria's civil war started two years ago Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

Photojournalist Mohammed al-Shaikh continued his excellent work from Bahrain. Here, a woman runs for cover from tear gas fired by riot police during clashes with protesters Photograph: Mohammed Al-Shaikh/AFP

Ultra-orthodox Jews celebrate the festival of Purim in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem. Purim marks the deliverance of the Jewish people from a genocidal plot in ancient Persia, as recorded in the Book of Esther Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP

An injured Indian one-horned rhinoceros at the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary in Assam, in the country's north-east. The rhinoceros was attacked with a spear by villagers when it wandered out of the sanctuary in search for food Photograph: Anupam Nath/AP

A tree was cut down and then moved by helicopter in Hann. Münden, Germany. Several trees were taken away by air as the surrounding steep slopes made them impossible to move by truck Photograph: Uwe Zucchi/AFP/Getty Images

Luis Amezquita hangs upside down over traffic as he practises 'slacklining' in Guatemala City. Fans of the extreme sport string a line between two points – but it is not held as taut as a tightrope Photograph: Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters

People take apart a house that was used by radical Islamists to store explosives in Gao, Mali Photograph: Joe Penney/Reuters

A Sumatran tiger plays with a pig at Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation, Sumatra – before killing it Photograph: Beawiharta/Reuters

People carrying candles walk around a statue of Buddha during Makha Bucha Day in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Getty

Head veterinarian Karen Wolf trims the claws of Boris the polar bear at an animal hospital in Tacoma, Washington, US Photograph: Tacoma News Tribune/Getty