Thomas Stephens

Journalist

I write articles on the Swiss Abroad and “Swiss Oddities” as well as weekly briefings and press reviews. I also translate, edit and sub-edit articles for the English department and do voiceover work for videos. Born in London, I have a degree in German/Linguistics and was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. I speak all three official Swiss languages and enjoy travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.

English Department

The SBC initiative seeks to reduce the annual licence fee for the national broadcaster from CHF335 ($431) to CHF200 and exempt all businesses.

Swiss Politics

Swiss voters reject cuts to licence fee

This content was published on Mar 8, 2026 The Swiss have clearly rejected a proposal to reduce funding for Swissinfo's parent company.

Swiss oddities

World’s first e-skis: genius or joke?

This content was published on Mar 7, 2026 A Swiss company has developed the world’s first battery-powered skis. But it might be an uphill battle to win over purists.

Trump’s ‘risky gamble’ in Iran, $2,000 cheques for all (or no one), and an AI ‘clash of egos’

This content was published on Mar 4, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Trump tariff rebuke, thoughts of a 100-year-old banker, and designer babies

This content was published on Feb 25, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Transatlantic tension, a MAGA gold rush, and a climate own goal

This content was published on Feb 18, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Bad Bunny, plummeting Bitcoin, and frozen iguanas

This content was published on Feb 11, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Epstein files, Fed chair nominee – and a new nuclear arms race?

This content was published on Feb 4, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss oddities

Cash for mouse tails: a dying Swiss tradition?

This content was published on Jan 31, 2026 Paying hunters – usually children – about a franc per tail remains an official strategy in some regions of Switzerland.

Minneapolis outrage, apps for boycotting US goods, and anti-MAGA crows

This content was published on Jan 28, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Trump’s first year, Greenland and tariffs, and NASA’s Moon plans

This content was published on Jan 21, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

ICE shooting, Fed probe, and withdrawal from international organisations

This content was published on Jan 14, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Capture of Nicolás Maduro, US tech dominance, and new vaccination advice

This content was published on Jan 7, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Politics

Switzerland’s 21 living ex-presidents: a world record

This content was published on Jan 5, 2026 Twenty-one former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?

Ruffled Republicans, the cost of LA fires, and Disney goes AI

This content was published on Dec 17, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss oddities

Play it again, Sämu: decoding Bernese nicknames

This content was published on Dec 13, 2025 The Bernese are particularly creative when it comes to tweaking and shortening forenames.

Trump Accounts for babies, national security strategy, and chlorinated chicken

This content was published on Dec 10, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Immigration freeze, Fed cutbacks, and an albino alligator

This content was published on Dec 3, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

National park fees, rising food prices, and a crypto ‘perfect storm’

This content was published on Nov 26, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Trump and the Epstein files, UBS speculation, and nuclear tests

This content was published on Nov 19, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

End of the shutdown, tariff reduction rumours, and a COP30 no-show

This content was published on Nov 12, 2025 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Debates

Would you give e-skis a go?

Battery-powered skis are divisive. Some people think they don’t belong on mountains, others welcome the gentle boost they provide. What do you think?

Join the discussion

Mar 7, 2026

1 Comments

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Have you got a nickname? How did you get it? Do you like it?

The Bernese are particularly creative when it comes to tweaking and shortening forenames.

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Dec 13, 2025

4 Comments

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Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?

Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?

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Jun 13, 2025

23 Likes

18 Comments

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Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?

Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?

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Mar 22, 2025

22 Likes

29 Comments

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‘No kids’ holidays are booming in Switzerland. Blatant discrimination or a stroke of genius?

Canny tourist operators have realised that many people will pay a premium to remove kids from their holidays. What does this say about society?

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Jul 17, 2024

103 Likes

57 Comments

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Thomas Stephens

More

Swiss voters reject cuts to licence fee

More

World’s first e-skis: genius or joke?

More

Trump’s ‘risky gamble’ in Iran, $2,000 cheques for all (or no one), and an AI ‘clash of egos’

More

Trump tariff rebuke, thoughts of a 100-year-old banker, and designer babies

More

Transatlantic tension, a MAGA gold rush, and a climate own goal

More

Bad Bunny, plummeting Bitcoin, and frozen iguanas

More

Epstein files, Fed chair nominee – and a new nuclear arms race?

More

Cash for mouse tails: a dying Swiss tradition?

More

Minneapolis outrage, apps for boycotting US goods, and anti-MAGA crows

More

Trump’s first year, Greenland and tariffs, and NASA’s Moon plans

More

ICE shooting, Fed probe, and withdrawal from international organisations

More

Capture of Nicolás Maduro, US tech dominance, and new vaccination advice

More

Switzerland’s 21 living ex-presidents: a world record

More

Ruffled Republicans, the cost of LA fires, and Disney goes AI

More

Play it again, Sämu: decoding Bernese nicknames

More

Trump Accounts for babies, national security strategy, and chlorinated chicken

More

Immigration freeze, Fed cutbacks, and an albino alligator

More

National park fees, rising food prices, and a crypto ‘perfect storm’

More

Trump and the Epstein files, UBS speculation, and nuclear tests

More

End of the shutdown, tariff reduction rumours, and a COP30 no-show

Debates

More

Would you give e-skis a go?

More

Have you got a nickname? How did you get it? Do you like it?

More

Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?

More

Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?

More

‘No kids’ holidays are booming in Switzerland. Blatant discrimination or a stroke of genius?

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