The Observer's twenty photographs of the week

An Egyptian protester stands on top of a burning police car during clashes near the US embassy in Cairo Photograph: Khalil Hamra/AP

Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic stadium, London Photograph: Tal Cohen/EPA

Demonstrators reflected on the visor of an Israeli policeman during a protest after a anti-Islam film was published online Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP

US President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally in Golden, Colorado Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

A woman holds her daughter during an air strike by Syrian air force near her house in the Ahad neighbourhood of Aleppo Photograph: Sam Tarling/AFP

A Yanomami Indian boy looks on from a hammock during a government-organised press trip in Irotatheri, Venezuela. Indigenous groups say miners recently attacked Amazon villages, but the government said there was no evidence that a massacre took place Photograph: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A Bangladeshi boat man attempts to make his way through hyacinth on the Buriganga river in Dhaka Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP

A member of the US military salutes during a ceremony honouring the return of the remains of the US ambassador and three other Americans killed in an attack in Libya Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

A Buddhist novice monk walks inside a monastery that farmers are using as a protest camp in Monywa township in Myanmar Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

A Syrian woman rests while her son constructs a makeshift tent made of sheets as they take refuge at Bab Al-Salameh Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

A protester has his eyes doused with milk after tear gas was fired during clashes with riot police near Tahrir Square in Cairo Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

A runner glides his hand along the wall of Empty Sky, New Jersey's memorial to the 749 people from the state who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks Photograph: Mel Evans/AP

Members of the Mexican armed forces participate in a theatrical rendition of the country's history at the military academy in Mexico City Photograph: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Palestinians security officers stand in front of protesters during clashes at a demonstration against high living costs and the government in the West Bank city of Hebron Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Students attend class at Kankone village school that was enveloped in smoke from a sulphuric acid factory at Sarlingyi township in Myanmar Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

Zhou Zhanchang, a survivor of the two earthquakes that hit Yiliang, Yunnan province, in China. The 12-year-old rests after receiving medical treatment in a tent outside a hospital Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

A model has her makeup done backstage before the Marchesa Spring/Summer 2013 show during New York fashion week Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Gannet Jacuzzi by Dr Matthew Doggett, winner of the coast and marine category in the British wildlife photography awards, 2012 Photograph: Dr Matthew Doggett/BWPA

A US soldier during Operation Pegasus, Khe Sanh, April 1968. The photo, taken by Larry Burrows, appears in the exhibition Everything Was Moving: Photographs from the 60s and 70s, at the Barbican Art Gallery, London from September 13, 2012 to January 13, 2013 Photograph: Larry Burrows/LIFE

Valerie and the shadow, Tennessee, 2008, by Lucas Foglia, from an exhibition at Unseen Photo Fair, September 19-23, Amsterdam Photograph: Lucas Foglia/Michael Hoppen Contemporary