Government Criticized For Conversion Therapy Failure; Basel Pranksters Storm TikTok; Traffic & Construction Head Set To Quit

Recently, councilors from Basel Stadt as well as representatives of the National Council have spoken out against the federal government for refusing to pass laws that would restrict gay conversion therapy. Gay conversion therapy, long linked to depression and a range of other mental health issues, has been used by church groups and other organisations to encourage homosexual people to ‘convert’ to heterosexuality. The organization LGBTIQ Pink Cross Switzerland says that gay conversion therapy, which is banned in some parts of the world, is common is Switzerland. The federal government, however, opposes a ban, arguing that current Swiss laws are sufficient enough to protect people from all types of alternative therapies. Many Swiss citizens disagree. Lucas Ott, a representative of Basel Stadt, told the BZ Basel newspaper that banning conversion therapy would send an important message throughout the country, saying: "A ban would push the authorities to investigate certain cases and would make sanctions possible that do not exist today." Another critic, Roman Heggli, works as a spokesman for LGBTIQ Pink Cross. He says that a ban would counter the idea that there is something wrong with gay people, adding, "I am shocked the federal government still does not see the need to act." Despite Switzerland being one of the first countries to legalize homosexual couples - doing so in 1942 - there are still many areas in which same-sex couples do not have equal rights to heterosexual couples. 

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The video sharing website TikTok has been featuring two Basel based 18 year old friends that have been filming themselves "pranking" bystanders.  The prank typically involves the two carrying giant stacks of empty cardboard Coop supermarket boxes which appear to fall on unsuspecting passers-by.  The account operated by the friends has 568,000 followers already, and their videos have amassed over 10million likes. Coop, whose boxes are they key to the gag, apparently also enjoys the videos and the publicity. Through a spokesperson, the company indicated they are already "talking" to the video producers.

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Hans-Peter Wessels, Basel's Traffic and Construction head in the cantonal government has said he will not seek re-election when his term expires a year from now. Frequently the target of criticism, Mr. Wessels has been in his position for 12 years. Prior to his service in the government, he was the managing director of the Economic Development bureau Basel Area.  In surveying the latest chapter of his career, Mr. Wessels has taken credit for increasing the number of trees, bike lanes, and reduced speed zones in the city.