Latest news with #Suisse
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Europe's cross-border caravan commuters: How an army of French workers camp on Swiss border and cross daily into prosperous Alpine neighbour to earn higher salaries
French workers are increasingly leaving behind their lives to stay in a caravan on the border and commute into neighbouring countries for more gainful employment. Communes on the country's eastern frontier are now said to be filling up with citizens eyeing work in richer countries - while still enjoying the lower cost of living at home. Employees can receive twice their French salary or more while working in Switzerland, and then return home for cheaper bills, groceries and fuel. This year, France recorded more than 230,000 people crossing the border into Switzerland alone - more than double the 99,500 noted 20 years ago. Cross-border work may be protected by law, but the scale now threatens to overwhelm the French welfare system and strain tiny frontier communities. Roger Belot, the mayor of the Alpine village of Les Fourgs, told The Sunday Times that these workers have transformed the commune. The community of 1,500 faces housing shortages, longer queues at food banks and a lack of staff in key industries as workers arrive and immediately look east. Over the winter, the outlet reports, a car park serving tourists was filled with caravans and trucks, much to the chagrin of locals dependent on the ski trade. Mr Belot said that he was now having to use village money to accommodate cross-border workers in a formal campsite where he can, at least, charge for access to water, electricity and waste disposal. While these workers do face a stripped-back life living out of vans in potentially hostile territory, the financial benefits are clear. France is battling an unemployment rate of 7.4 per cent and the median salary is approximately €2,735 (£2,355) net per month in the private sector, according to the latest INSEE data. In Switzerland, the median gross monthly salary for full-time employees was CHF 6,788 (£6,249) in 2022, the most recent data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Put differently, the €400 (£344) Mr Belot hopes to charge for staying in the campsite is around 15 per cent of the median French wage. It is 5.5 per cent of the median Swiss. Les Fourgs is not unique. In Pontarlier, near the Swiss border, 30 per cent of the 18,000 inhabitants are cross-border workers, 24 heures reports. Locals complain that Swiss wages are massively driving up property prices on the French side of the border - up to levels comparable with Paris. This trend is felt most in France, but exists in Italy, Germany and Austria, too. In total, some 405,000 people crossed borders to work in Switzerland in the first quarter of 2025. 234,000 were French. France has, until recently, guaranteed certain protections to these workers. Should a cross-border worker from France lose their well-paying job in Switzerland, they will be cushioned by the French state, which pays out benefits based on prior salary. According to The Times, the French state is losing €800 million every year to such workers who lose their jobs. Efforts are being taken to redress this. In March, a new decree aimed at cross-border workers introduced 'major changes' to compensation. Before April 1, a cross-border worker who lost their job in Switzerland could refer to his Swiss salary to determine claims in France. Now, it has to be defined in line with French expectations. Nonetheless, there are now some 500,000 'frontaliers' living and working between France and its neighbours as more and more cotton on. Social media is now awash with anonymous users gently probing how they might go about finding work over the border while continuing to live in France. On Facebook last week, one French member of a Swiss expats group said they had a 'stable and comfortable' remote IT job based in France, but hoped to 'experience the Swiss professional environment' while continuing to live in France near the border. They asked what kind of salary they should aim for in an IT support role while living on the French side with two young children. 'Anything above 80k CHF [£73,639] gross/year is a good salary, [especially] if you're living in France,' another anonymous user replied. Glassdoor estimates that even working in Paris, an IT support worker can only expect a salary of around €40,500 (£34,859). Once folded into the Swiss tax system, they can expect to pay significantly lass tax than they would in France. Then, after a short commute home, they can pay a fraction of what they would have spent in Switzerland for dinner, utilities or a night on the town. Curiosity around cross-border benefits has spawned blogs, travel pages and official websites dedicated to answering questions on the topic. Associations for cross-border workers have also banded together to form the 'European Confederation of Cross-Border Workers', in part to create a legal unit to defend those subject to the new rules on benefits. Working within the EU is, for France, slightly more straightforward. Citizens are able to move to and reside in other member countries, thanks to the right to free movement. This means a French worker can cross the border into Germany or Belgium and live for up to three months without any requirements other than a valid identity card or passport. To stay longer, they may be asked to meet certain conditions, like proof of study or work. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but French workers can work across the border with a G permit, a Swiss document that their employer applies for. Working in Switzerland and living in France has been legal since 1983, thanks to a bilateral agreement between the two countries. There are certain conditions; cross-border workers must return to France at least once a week, for example. After 12 years of recognised status, cross-border workers may be eligible for Swiss nationality, while also retaining their French nationality. Switzerland voted against joining the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992, but separately does also allow EU citizens to live and work in Switzerland under a free movement agreement. Switzerland, with an ageing population of just nine million, stands to gain from the system. But the influx of French workers has been met with some resistance. Long-time beneficiaries of the system told the Sunday Times that newcomers were giving them a bad name. And the increased supply of workers is believed to be lowering wages for available jobs in Switzerland. Some Swiss have also started limiting access to amenities for the French. Last week, French media picked up on reports a popular pool would limit use to Swiss nationals and holders of a valid settlement permit or work permit. Cross-border workers may be able to enjoy the benefits for now. But on both sides of the frontier, perceptions are changing in response to the scale of the movement.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Chaka Khan Headlines Musical Tribute To Quincy Jones At Montreux Jazz Festival
MJF LAC. Scène du Lac. Chaka Khan © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Montreux Jazz festival kicked off its 59th edition on Friday 4th July with Chaka Khan's musical homage to 28-time Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones. Legendary Soulstress Chaka Khan led the tribute to Quincy Jones–former Ambassador and co-producer of the festival–who died last year aged 91. Held on the stunning Lake Stage overlooking magical Lake Geneva, the emotional celebration was a joyful opening night full of music and brimming with love for the legendary Music Producer who was instrumental in shaping the soul of Montreux Jazz Festival. Chaka Khan's tribute to Quincy set the tone for an extraordinary two-week programme of live music in Montreux, which ends on 19th July. There was no more fitting way to open the 2025 Montreux Jazz Festival than by honouring the legacy of legendary American Music Producer Quincy Jones–who passed away last November–in a one-of-a-kind show created especially for Montreux and fronted by iconic Chicago-born singer Chaka Khan on the fourth of July–US Independence Day. Chaka was joined by several special guests with a link to Quincy to pay a musical tribute to their friend and mentor. The unique concert was streamed worldwide as part of the Festival's livestream programme. MJF LAC. Scène du Lac. ChakaKhan © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Following Chaka Khan's show stopping tribute to Quincy Jones, legendary folk singer Neil Young took to the stage on Sunday 6th July, and a host of world-class performers–including Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and Grace Jones, as well as Pulp and Alanis Morissette (fresh from standout performances at Glastonbury)–will grace the Lake Stage for a lakeside swan song before the Festival returns to the Montreux Convention Centre in 2026 for its 60th edition. After a first act featuring her greatest hits, kicking off with a storming rendition of hit I'm every woman , Chaka was joined on-stage by a host of special guests who have shared the stage or studio with Jones over the decades including; Siedah Garrett, Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Mica Paris, SEVEN, and Marc Sway. The starry ensemble of musicians covered multiple hit songs produced by Quincy including Man in the Mirror (which Grammy Award winning singer Siedah Garrett co-wrote), Give Me the Night and The Secret Garden , as well as Chaka tracks Tell Me Something Good to Do You Love What You Feel . Chaka Khan's star wattage shone through her stage presence and powerful voice, which belied her 72 years and diminutive form, and she captivated the packed audience on the Lake Stage for an energy-filled set lasting more than three hours. The performance was titled To Q With Love –inspired by Frank Sinatra's affectionate nickname of 'Q' for Quincy–and a touching montage of archive footage featuring early performances by Chaka Khan, and images of the festival's founder Claude Nobs with Quincy, was introduced in a pre-recorded video message by Michelle Obama. MJF LAC. Scène du Lac OST. Chaka Khan & Siedah Garrett © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Highlights of the magical evening–aside from Chaka's spellbinding performance–were emotion-filled renditions of Quincy hit records by Soul Queens Siedah Garrett, Mica Paris and Lalah Hathaway, and a joyful appearance by Swiss-Brazilian singer and percussionist Marc Sway. Set against the backdrop of a balmy July evening on Lake Geneva, the uplifting concert was a fitting homage to Quincy Jones and cemented the impact of his legacy on Montreux and on the history of music. MJF LAC Scène du Lac OST. Marc Sway performing at Chaka Khan concert. © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Chaka Khan told the crowd: 'This here tonight is a tribute to one of the most amazing men on the planet, and in music. As a father, a grandfather, an uncle, he was many things to me. And I know in your heart of hearts, where your music part lives, that he's part of it. So, we're gonna' do a little tribute–no a big tribute actually–to Quincy Jones.' This was a unique moment to witness in Montreux as iconic Soultress Chaka Khan performed her greatest hits in a one-off tribute to the late, great Quincy Jones–former co-producer and ambassador of Montreux Jazz Festival–before the performances return to a newly renovated Casino in 2026. MJF LAC. Scène du Lac OST. Siedah Garrett performs with Chaka Khan © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Before her rendition of Man in the Mirror Siedah Garrett recounted to the audience: 'This song changed my life. This song has opened so many doors, has allowed me to be on this stage tonight honouring the late, great, Quincy Delight Jones. So he [Quincy] was looking for one more song to round up the 'Bad' album [by Michael Jackson]. So Glen [Ballard] and I wrote this song and Michael loved it and recorded it.' Arriving by boat across the glistening water of Lake Geneva from stunning Hotel des Couronnes in Vevey was the ultimate mode of transport, the lake stage appearing above the crystal clear water of Lake Geneva in a magical prelude to an unforgettable night of life-affirming music. An Electrifying Farewell As the final chords rang out and Chaka brought the night full circle with a rousing encore of I'm Every Woman , a tangible electricity surged through the crowd and everybody danced, including the most reserved concert goers. A perfectly fitting end to an unforgettable evening of music on the Swiss Riviera. More than a concert, the performance felt like a musically spiritual communion–an expression of love for Quincy and his legacy, a joyous celebration of Chaka Khan's contribution to music history, a showcase for the talents of her supporting singers and musicians, and an ode to the natural beauty of Lake Geneva and Montreux. MJF LAC. Scène du Lac OST. Chaka Khan © Lionel Flusin © Lionel Flusin Streaming for the World, from Montreux with Love All performances from Montreux Jazz Festival 2025 are being livestreamed for free via the Festival's official YouTube channel, continuing its mission to bring live music to audiences around the world, without borders. The full and updated streaming schedule is available on the festival website. With To Q With Love , Montreux didn't just open a music festival—it opened a portal. To memory. To melody. To the spirit of Quincy Jones. And surely–as Chaka's performance unfolded under the starry night Sky of Montreux– Quincy Jones and Claude Nobs were listening from the heavens. A Starry line-up at Montreux Jazz Festival 2025 Chaka Khan's Quincy Jones tribute kicked off a two week festival programme with a a standout lineup including RAYE, Benson Boone, The Black Keys, FKA Twigs, Alanis Morissette, J Balvin, Bloc Party, Joe Bonamassa, London Grammar, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Celeste. All the concerts will be available to livestream for free on the Montreux Jazz Festival's official YouTube channel, bringing Montreux's iconic lakeside experience directly to music lovers everywhere and continuing the Festival's ambition to bring live music to as wide a public as possible. The full and updated broadcast schedule is available on the festival's website. With this extraordinary opening night, the Montreux Jazz Festival 2025 is officially underway, promising two more weeks of unforgettable moments on the shores of Lake Geneva. For more information or tickets go the festival website.
CNA
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
"A Beautiful Gift": Swiss women pioneers celebrate the game's transformation
SION, Switzerland :On the terrace of a restaurant in the Swiss city of Sion sits a group of pioneers of women's football in Switzerland who have seen the beautiful game change beyond recognition. For 72-year-old Madeleine Boll, seeing the city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland hosting three games in the Women's European Championship, which is being staged across the country, is a proud moment. The mascot of the tournament, a Saint Bernard puppy, bears her name, Maddli, in recognition of her role in advancing women's football in Switzerland. At 12 years old in 1965, Boll became the first woman in Switzerland to obtain a licence to play football, with FC Sion's boys' youth team. But just months later it was taken away from her after the club said it had made an error. "I was the happiest little girl. But the day they took away my licence, I was the unhappiest because I didn't understand why I was forbidden to play," Boll told Reuters. However, it marked the first in a series of landmark moments that enabled women's inclusion in Swiss football. By 1970 the first Swiss Women's Football League was created, with Boll's father, Jean Boll, its president. Madeleine later played for FC Sion, one of the earliest women's football clubs in Switzerland. "It's a beautiful gift because it's here that the beginnings of Swiss women's football took root," she said. KEY MOMENT A lot has changed since Boll and her generation played. There are now 40,000 registered women players and 134 female referees in Switzerland, according to the Swiss FA. "It was different. We didn't have jerseys, we didn't have means to travel ... We had to make people understand that we are capable of playing," said 72-year-old Rosemarie Siggen, from Sion who started playing football towards the end of the 1960s. For Siggen and Boll, who were joined by four other footballing pioneers in the women's game in Sion, this year's tournament is a key moment to make strides in supporting women's football. "The Euros will be a catalyst," Boll told Reuters, pointing to it as an opportunity for greater investment in the women's game. The Swiss hosts are hoping the legacy of the tournament - being played across eight cities over the next month - will bolster female football in the country as Euro 2022 did for champions England. It is aiming to double the number of female players by 2027, according to the Swiss FA. "It's a bit difficult for these young girls. They need help. I think there should be stronger support, a real investment ... we want to see them progress because they can bring many beautiful things," said Siggen. Boll hopes that the Switzerland side, who lost their first match of the tournament 2-1 to Norway, can continue to make strides with more financial support. "If we want to have a good Swiss team ... it will be important that girls become professional because it is difficult ... to achieve results while having a job or being a student," Boll said. UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, announced a record 600,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament. Basel will host the final on July 27 at St. Jakob-Park, the largest football stadium in Switzerland.
Finextra
18-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
UBS employee details leaked in cyberattack on data provider Chain IQ
Swiss bank UBS has fallen victim to a cyberattack at a vendor that leaked the personal details of tens of thousands of employees. 0 The data was stolen from files held by supplier Chain IQ and posted on the darknet. "A cyber-attack at an external supplier has led to information about UBS and several other companies being stolen," UBS says. "As soon as UBS became aware of the incident, it took swift and decisive action to avoid any impact on its operations." The French-speaking Swiss newspaper Le Temps wrote that 130,000 pieces of data had been stolen from UBS. This would also include the direct telephone number of bank director Sergio Ermotti. Another Swiss bank, Pictet, was also caught out by the attack, with the infiltrators stealing reams of invoice data from certain providers over recent years. Both banks maintain that no client data had been stolen during the break-in.
SBS Australia
16-06-2025
- Sport
- SBS Australia
Unclipped with Grace Brown: Tour Form Check - Who's Ready and Who Needs a Reset
This week, Grace takes stock of who's in sharp form and who may need as reset, as the summer's biggest races draw near. The Critérium du Dauphiné may be the Tour's traditional dress rehearsal, but it didn't deliver the showdown many expected and the signs are pointing to a one-man show in July. The women's peloton told a different story in the Tour de Suisse where Marlen Reusser delivered a bold win on home soil, while Demi Vollering showed rare signs of fatigue.
