Minsheng delays H-share listing to 2005

Shareholders' representatives of the China Minsheng Banking Corp vote on resolutions relating to the bank's development on Friday, during a shareholders' general meeting in Beijing.(newsphoto)

Greeting from hometown of Santa Claus

A Santa Claus writes greeting card in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Finland Dec. 22, 2004. As this Christmas approaches, Santa Claus has sent greeting letters with eight different languages to children all over the world. Chinese children can also receive greetings from the remote hometown of Santa Claus.

Christmas in Shanghai

A lady walks under the "Christmas flower gate" of a shopping center in Shanghai on December 23. As Christmas approaches streets of Shanghai are decorated with Christmas trees, Santa Claus in red and various decorations relating to Christmas.

Karzai swears in new reformist cabinet

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center, and new Cabinet members during the swearing in ceremony of the country's new Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Kabul Dec. 24. President Karzai swore in his new Cabinet Friday, hailing the body as Afghanistan's best hope for a better future and urging its new members to set aside ethnic and regional loyalties to work for the good of the nation.

President Hu visits renowned scientists

President Hu Jintao (R) visits Zhu Guangya (C), renowned nuclear physicist, and Zhu's wife, Professor Xu Huijun, at their home in Beijing, Dec. 24, 2004.