Swiss craftsmanship on display at ECAL Luxury & Design Exhibition

Switzerland is known for its chocolate, watches and army knives. But the country is responsible for much more, including some of the planet's top designers.

What's on

Events

Rich man, poor man

At opposite ends of the financial spectrum, two men tell METRO reporter Wang Wen how the widening wealth gap has shaped their lives

Fake papers are rife at universities

Strong demand for ghost-written academic papers in the lead-up to university graduation time and revelations that people pay to have scholarly articles published are worrying critics who fear the billion-yuan industry is making it harder than ever to evaluate graduates' abilities.

Civil service test called 'unfair'

Some graduate students who attended the government's public service exam on Sunday are claiming it was unfairly biased to benefit Beijing residents.

Accomplice in kidnapping appeals prison sentence

An accomplice in the kidnapping of a millionaire's daughter has appealed his 10-year prison sentence.

Migrant kids will get education

As many as 90 percent of migrant students in compulsory education in Beijing will study at publicly-funded schools by 2012, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education announced recently.

Fast lane taking less of a toll

Beijing is hoping twice as many people will use the through lane on expressways to bypass toll gates this year, saving time for drivers and increasing efficiency for the company that manages the roads.

Student who killed self was singled out by teacher: Family

An 18-year-old high school student killed himself Thursday after being punished at school, the deceased's family claims.

Senior policewoman is happy serving expat community

Qin Shanshan is the only female leader in the accident department at the Beijing traffic control and administrative bureau but while women are underrepresented on the payroll, the many awards she has received proves women are every bit as capable as Qin's male colleagues.

IN BRIEF (Page 26)

City on road toward greener vehicles

Beijing authorities have rolled out a bold plan to start running thousands of energy-saving, electric-powered vehicles later this year. But experts and consumers say the local market may not be ready for the drastic change from fuel to electricity.