Shoppers outside a newly opened branch of luxury perfumier Lancome. Mikhail Gorbachev's Glasnost and Perestroika policies allowed western brands such as Lancome and others to begin doing business in S...

Shoppers outside a newly opened branch of luxury perfumier Lancome. Mikhail Gorbachev's Glasnost and Perestroika policies allowed western brands such as Lancome and others to begin doing business in S...

The reception desk in the lobby of the luxury St. Regis Almasa Hotel in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. Following persistent problems of overpopulation, pollution and traffic congestion, the const...

An ostentatious wedding hall.

Aerial view (Google earth) of the Witanhurst Mansion, London's largest and most expensive private residence, valued at around 450 million pounds. Its current owner kept his identity secret for a numbe...

A woman looking at Rene Magritte's L'empire des lumieres, among the art on display at Sotheby's auctioneers.

A homeless man begging for money sits outside in front of a window displaying Beluga caviar at The Cavier House shop in central London.

Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1960, part of The Macklowe Collection, among the art on display at Sotheby's auctioneers.

Garrowby Hill, a 1998 painting by David Hockney of the Yorkshire-landmark of the same name, among the art on display at Sotheby's auctioneers.

A Russian flag flies over the Trade Delegation of Russia. Its stated aim is to promote the economic interests of the Russian Federation but, during periods of increased tension between Russia and the...

The City of London, the UK's financial hub and centre for global banking and wealth management, as seen from Hampstead Heath.

A Russian flag flies over the Trade Delegation of Russian in the UK. Its stated aim is to promote the economic interests of the Russian Federation but, during periods of increased tension between Russ...

The City of London, the UK's financial hub and centre for global banking and wealth management, as seen from Hampstead Heath.

A Russian flag flies over the Trade Delegation of Russian in the UK. Its stated aim is to promote the economic interests of the Russian Federation but, during periods of increased tension between Russ...

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

People cross a beach road in a wealthy neighbourhood popular with 'Metros', newly migrated metropolitan French citizens, and tourists.

Security checking invitations to the opening of a new Dolce and Gabbana fashion boutique.

Party people at the opening of a new Dolce and Gabbana fashion boutique.

People drinking champagne at the opening of a new de Grisogono designer jewelry store in an affluent Moscow suburb.

A woman looks at diamond jewelry on display at the opening of a new de Grisogono designer jewelry store.

Party people enjoy themselves at the opening of a new Dolce and Gabbana fashion boutique.

People in a restaurant in the Royal Address Complex in affluent northern Tehran.

A barista pours coffee for a customer in the Hestooran Restaurant in the Royal Address Complex in affluent northern Tehran.

Women look at jewellery in the gold bazaar.

A woman looks at jewellery in the gold bazaar.

A group of young middle class friends meet over bubble tea in the trendy Sam Cafe.

A member of staff stands beside an ornate clock displayed in a case in the Nayeb restaurant.

The ornately painted ceiling in the Nayeb restaurant.

The Hestooran Restaurant in the Royal Address Complex in affluent northern Tehran.

High rise buildings in affluent northern Tehran.

A receptionist in the Hestooran Restaurant in the Royal Address Complex in affluent northern Tehran.

Wealthy customers are served drinks of the terrace of a high rise building.

A group of young middle class friends meet over bubble tea in the trendy Sam Cafe.

High rise buildings in affluent northern Tehran.

Ukrainian engineers have collected grenades, mines and other war materiel in this unofficial museum which they also use to teach others about the many dangers what face soldiers and civilians in the o...

Two women are taking photographs at Tivat's new yacht marina in the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), a winding bay on the Adriatic Sea, sometimes called Europe's southernmost fjord.

All terrain vehicles, popular with drug traffickers, for sale at 'Crazy Motors'.

A team of men who are mining a claim by hand for saphires. The discovery of one saphire under a road bridge led to an influx of prospectors and the growth of a village to support saphire mining in the...

A team of men digging a claim by hand in a saphire mine. The discovery of one saphire under a road bridge led to an influx of prospectors and the growth of a village to support saphire mining in the a...

A homeless woman with her belongings, seeking a place to pass the night, walks along the Rue du Rhone, one of Geneva's principal luxury shopping streets. The temperature is approx -4C and snow remains...

A gold trader who buys gold from the various artisanal gold mines that operate in the Sahara Desert in the north of the country, holds an ingot which will be sold in Dubai or India.

Ingots at a gold trader's workshop. Traders buy gold from the various artisanal gold mines that operate in the Sahara Desert in the north of the country and sell it in Dubai or India.

A blue Porche drives by the Hard Rock Cafe on the Corniche on the Mediterranean coast.

Helina Korley (20) stirring a pot of fufu while making dinner for her father and siblings at their home in the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the s...

Victoria (13) scraping up salt leftovers after a sale on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. She says will sell these for use...

Labourers carry basins of salt from the heaps stockpiled in the distance in relays across the mudflats of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lago...

A tractor hauling a load of salt, destined for regional export, across the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. It is traditionally taboo to wi...

Daniel Atteh Tsirapah (57) astride his motorcycle outside the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. Li...

A bitch and her puppies outside a church building in Midie, a small village on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. Locals make...

Women and girls labouring in a salt pan in the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. It is traditionally taboo to win salt in this area of the l...

Akpertiyo Lawer, who estimates her age at 90, at her home in Matsekope, a village on Ghana's salt-rich Songor Lagoon. Pictured with her grandchildren, Roberta Sottie, 17, and Obed Sottie Obed, 21, she...

A truck being loaded with salt destined for Burkina Faso on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. It is traditionally taboo to w...

Salt crystals in a salt pan in the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. It is traditionally taboo to win salt in this area of the lagoon, but i...

Mary Akuteye, president of the Yihi Katseme (Brave Women), standing in front of private 'atsiakpo' pans in Bonneykope on the edge of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was histo...

Amertey Apedor Ayornu (77), the Libiwornor, a traditional priest responsible for the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was historically a communal resource managed in trust for the...

Salt being loaded onto a truck near Bonneykope on the Songhor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was historically a communal resource managed in trust for the people of Ada by the leadership of the...

Salt being harvested in a private salt pan near Bonneykope in the Songhor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was historically a communal resource managed in trust for the people of Ada by the leader...

Salt pans near Bonneykope in the Songhor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was historically a communal resource managed in trust for the people of Ada by the leadership of the clan to whom, accordi...

Sophia (1), at the home in the village of Bonneykope on the banks of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon where she lives with her aunt, the president of the Yihi Katseme (Brave Women), a group fighting to rec...

Mary Akuteye with her daughter Sophia (14, left) and niece Bernice (16) at their home in the village of Bonneykope on the banks of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. Unable to make a living from salt winnin...

Mary Akuteye at the market in Kasseh. The market serves the surrounding region, including the communities around the salt-rich Songor Lagoon, such as the village of Bonneykope where Akuteye lives. She...

Salt being bagged at the market in Kasseh. The market town serves the surrounding region, including the communities around the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. The salt-rich Songor Lagoon was historically a...

Nene Korley IV, the chief of the Tekperbiawe clan, to whom the salt-rich Songor Lagoon is traditionally believed to have been bequeathed. According to legend, a hunter named Korley wounded an animal w...

Helina Korley (20) with neighbours in the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. A fashion design stude...

A 5.00 Ghana Cedi note (EUR 0.70) tied to the draw string of 20 year-old Helina Korley's shorts. A fashion design student at college, in her spare time she labours in relatives' salt pans to contribut...

Helina Korley (20) resting outside a relative's home after returning from working in a salt pan in the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. A f...

Helina Korley (20) working in a salt pan in the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. A fashion design student at a nearby college, in her spare...

Young men loading a wagon with salt outside the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. The area is inac...

Young men loading a wagon with salt outside the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. The area is inac...

Helina Korley (20) at her family's homestead in the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. A fashion de...

Helina Korley (20) working in her family's shop in the small village of Midie on the edge of the 'Yomo', the area traditionally held to be the spiritual heart of the salt-rich Songor Lagoon. A fashion...

A sports car crosses a bridge over the Arve River with the RTS tower, the headquarters of the French language version of the Swiss national broadacaster, SSR, behind.

Dawn breaks over the headquarters of watch brand Rolex in the Acasias district.

The Hans-Wilsdorf bridge over the Arve River, leading to the Rolex headquarters (the foundation owning the luxury watch brand financed the bridge's construction, which is named for the company's found...

A woman wearing a fur coat passing advertsing for a luxury brand, including a fur coat, on the Rue du Rhone.

An empty window display in the closed Cartier shop on the Kurfuerstendamm.

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

George Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundation, visiting a small Roma village on the outskirts of Bucharest where the Open Society Foundation is one of the donors to a project working...

A shopping trolley full of a homeless person's belongings parked beside a luxury watch outlet in a shopping centre.

An African migrant, one of a group sleeping rough by the Arve River where it runs through the city close to the HQ of luxury watch brand Rolex, crossing the grand Hans-Wilsdorf Bridge, named after the...

Expensive limousines parked on a street lined with shops selling jade jewellery.

Waiters serve champagne at a private event put on by a luxury brand at a mall in downtown Beijing.