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

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 3, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Legend has it that Barry was stabbed to death by a French soldier because he mistook him for a wolf.

Swiss oddities

Barry the St Bernard, the national animal of Switzerland?

This content was published on Oct 3, 2026 Why is Barry, a barrel-wearing dog who died more than 200 years ago, so popular?

Ban on election observers, tariffs with China, and plummeting birth rates

This content was published on Sep 30, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 26, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Trump’s attacks on media, raised interest rates, and measles deaths

This content was published on Sep 23, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 19, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Activists at the ‘2026 March on Washington: Defend the Vote’ on August 28.

Postal vote verdict, Trump’s $5,000 promise, and a 324-million-year-old fossil

This content was published on Sep 16, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

US-Canada trade war escalates, 9/11 25 years on, and a medical first involving a pig

This content was published on Sep 9, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 5, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Cronyism and diplomacy, the new man at Apple, and the Meta settlement

This content was published on Sep 2, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 29, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Restricted postal voting, US-Canada trade war, and thoughts of a Nobel scientist

This content was published on Aug 26, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Abdul El-Sayed speaks after winning the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Michigan.

Democrats veer left, bond yields surge – and the return of the glasshole?

This content was published on Aug 19, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 15, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

SpaceX leaves its mark on the Moon, Trump’s odyssey, and scepticism of Fed head

This content was published on Aug 12, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

A bridge over troubled political waters, Trump Accounts, and the Fauci hearings

This content was published on Aug 5, 2026 A round-up of US-related news as reported by the Swiss media.

Swiss Abroad Community

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 1, 2026 Welcome to our selection of some of the biggest – and most colourful – stories in Switzerland over the past seven days.

Read more: The week in Switzerland

Young savers, waning agricultural power, and the return of measles

This content was published on Jul 29, 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 Jul 28, 2026 Twenty-one former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?

Swiss oddities

Play it again, Sämu: decoding Bernese nicknames

This content was published on Jul 25, 2026 The Bernese are particularly creative when it comes to tweaking and shortening forenames.

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 Likes

5 Comments

View the discussion

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.

Join the discussion

Dec 13, 2025

6 Comments

View the discussion

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?

Join the discussion

Jun 13, 2025

23 Likes

18 Comments

View the discussion

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?

Join the discussion

Mar 22, 2025

22 Likes

29 Comments

View the discussion

‘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?

Join the discussion

Jul 17, 2024

126 Likes

57 Comments

View the discussion

Thomas Stephens

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Barry the St Bernard, the national animal of Switzerland?

More

Ban on election observers, tariffs with China, and plummeting birth rates

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Trump’s attacks on media, raised interest rates, and measles deaths

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Postal vote verdict, Trump’s $5,000 promise, and a 324-million-year-old fossil

More

US-Canada trade war escalates, 9/11 25 years on, and a medical first involving a pig

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Cronyism and diplomacy, the new man at Apple, and the Meta settlement

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Restricted postal voting, US-Canada trade war, and thoughts of a Nobel scientist

More

Democrats veer left, bond yields surge – and the return of the glasshole?

More

The week in Switzerland

More

SpaceX leaves its mark on the Moon, Trump’s odyssey, and scepticism of Fed head

More

A bridge over troubled political waters, Trump Accounts, and the Fauci hearings

More

The week in Switzerland

More

Young savers, waning agricultural power, and the return of measles

More

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

More

Play it again, Sämu: decoding Bernese nicknames

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?

Popular Stories

Most Discussed