A look at the best news photos from around the world.
December 21, 2022
![Taliban security personnel stand guard along a road in Kabul, Afghanistan. Hundreds of young women were prevented from entering Afghan university campuses, a day after the nation's Taliban rulers banned them from higher education.](https://gdb.voanews.com/09410000-0a00-0242-03d9-08dae3848277_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Taliban security personnel stand guard along a road in Kabul, Afghanistan. Hundreds of young women were prevented from entering Afghan university campuses, a day after the nation's Taliban rulers banned them from higher education.
![Pope Francis, right, greets faithful dressed as the Three Wise Men during his weekly general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican.](https://gdb.voanews.com/09410000-0a00-0242-daf1-08dae384906c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Pope Francis, right, greets faithful dressed as the Three Wise Men during his weekly general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican.
![A woman is caned by a Sharia policeman as a punishment for being caught in close proximity with a man in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.](https://gdb.voanews.com/09410000-0a00-0242-8a77-08dae384825d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A woman is caned by a Sharia policeman as a punishment for being caught in close proximity with a man in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
![A diver dressed in a Santa Claus costume waves to young visitors at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium in Bangkok.](https://gdb.voanews.com/03370000-0aff-0242-267e-08dae384826b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A diver dressed in a Santa Claus costume waves to young visitors at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium in Bangkok.