The Observer's 20 photographs of the week

A Syrian girl chants slogans during a demonstration after Friday prayers in the Bustan Al-Qasr district of Aleppo, Syria. After months of fighting, thousands of residents have returned to the city as they attempt to return to their daily lives while heavy fighting is still taking place along the frontlines in the city Photograph: Narciso Contreras/AP

Indian Shia Muslims flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession marking Ashura, in New Delhi. Muharram is a month of mourning for Shia Muslims in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

A model showcases a creation by Chinese designer Guo Pei in Singapore at the Asian Couture 2012 show Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Afghan refugee boys wrap themselves with blankets to avoid the evening cold while sitting in a wooden cart Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

A boat sits in marshland near Sea Bright, New Jersey, almost a month after the area was hit by Hurricane Sandy Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters

Palestinian boys play in the rubble of a house in Gaza City Photograph: Patrick Baz/AFP

Waves crash over lava as it flows into the ocean near Volcanoes national park in Kalapana, Hawaii Photograph: Hugh Gentry/Reuters

A girl looks at the red algal bloom at Clovelly beach in Sydney. A huge red algal bloom along vast stretches of south-eastern Australia's coastline resulted in beaches being closed and turned swathes of usually pristine ocean milky pink Photograph: The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty Images

Dairy farmers clash with riot police during a protest against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg outside the European parliament in Brussels. Dairy farmers from across Europe protested against falling milk prices caused by overproduction on the continent Photograph: Zhou Lei/Corbis

Iranian Shia Muslims beat their chests after rubbing mud on their body early in the morning, during the Kharrah Mali (mud rubbing) ritual to mark the Ashura religious ceremony in the city of Khorramabad Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP

Journalists interview a wounded FDLR rebel fighter in Muti village. The Rwandan government said its troops clashed with FDLR rebels who attacked three villages on its border with Democratic Republic of the Congo, but a spokesman for the FDLR denied its fighters had been involved Photograph: James Akena/Reuters

An Indian Sikh Nihang performs a fire-breathing act during a procession from Sri Akal Takhat to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The event took place on the eve of the anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev's birth, who was the founder of Sikhism Photograph: Narinder Nanu/AFP

A Palestinian schoolgirl appears through a hole in a wall at a damaged school in Gaza Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP

Pakistanis work at a brick factory on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. According to workers at the factory, adults earn 300 rupees (£1.97), while children earn 250 rupees per day Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

A displaced Congolese child carries her belongings back towards Sake, having left the Mugunga internally displaced camp. Rebel M23 fighters handed over the frontline town of Sake on Friday to the UN and regional officials Photograph: Phil Moore/AFP

Ruby Walsh riding There's No Panic takes a huge leap over a fence during the Fuller's Pride Novices' Steeple Chase at Newbury racecourse Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty

Loch Lomond is seen from Duncryne hill. Weather warnings have been issued as temperatures start to fall below freezing Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

People celebrate as a balloon carrying fireworks takes off during the hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi in Myanmar's north-eastern Shan state Photograph: Ye Aung Thu/AFP

Anti-Mursi protesters throw stones during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Opponents of Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi rallied in Cairo, stepping up calls to scrap a decree they say threatens Egypt with a new era of autocracy Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters

A boy watches horse riders on a flooded road near Moorland, Somerset. Britain's beleaguered towns and villages were dealt a further blow this week as rain battered the country and 200,000 householders were warned they could lose their home insurance policies Photograph: Tim Ireland/PA