WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state. Instead of using traffic lights to control the stop and go flow of the cross-roads, attractive women dressed in perfectly crisps and identical outfits dangerously stand along in the middle of the road on a small platform. Displaying riveting focus, they are only allowed to turn counter-clockwise, directing traffic with forceful and halting movements. They have been the subject of photographic study for many years but French photographer Eric Lafforgue, 49, captured these moments during six trips to the Marxist country.
A diver explores the crystal clear waters of the Silfra canyon in southern Iceland, which is the only place on Earth where you can dive or snorkel between two continental plates .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
WITH the mystical clouds forming a thick blanket and the electrifying lights below, these stunning pictures provide a unique view of the cityscape of Dubai taken from the tallest building in the world .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
MEET the little lion of suburbia with a mane that makes him look like a mini-king of the jungle .
BASKING in smug satisfaction, a confident squirrel gives a wink to the camera .
IN a galaxy not so far away lies a magical display of lights that could be the latest image from NASA .
FLYING through the air, these delighted pooches pull their best poses mid-flight .
These are the amazing close up pictures of North Korea's mass games - after photographers were previously banned from taking shots so close to the dazzling formation dances .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .