High Winds Wreak Havoc; Ferrari Wreck On Highway; Swiss Students Stress; Nude Diners Delight

News For 4 February 2020

Between Monday and Tuesday, record breaking winds blew across the country damaging power lines, disrupting traffic and bringing flooding in certain areas.  Weather service MeteoSwiss reported recordings of 170km / hour winds in the mountains of Bern, setting records for Switzerland.  Winds in excess of 120km / hour were also recorded in canton Zurich and Basel.  The weather system is associated with a rapid drop in temperature which is expected to continue through Tuesday and Wednesday.

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On Sunday afternoon, shortly after 2:50pm, a Red Ferrari, operated by a 34 year old male, skidded out of control on the A2 highway near Pratteln just outside Basel Stadt. Nobody was injured in the accident, and the cause has yet to be determined, and police continue to investigate. The Ferrari was driving in the right lane, when it lost control, and collided with a BMW in the fast lane, and skidded to a stop on the second fast lane. The heavily damaged car was taken away by towing services.   ********** A national Swiss campaign to promote student mental health has been launched following concerns that the pressure on young people at university is too high. Students are reporting anxiety, depression and exhaustion as they try to cram in studies, part-time jobs, and higher expectations. In the most recent University of Lausanne annual “How are you?” well-being survey of first-year students, over half of respondents reported stress due to studies and workload, while just under half said they were worried, anxious, tired or demotivated, said Swiss public television RTS. For Markus Diem, head of the University of Basel Student Advice Centre, the figures may well just be the tip of the iceberg, as not all students affected go to university counselling. Social media, pressure to be the best, and pushing away negative feelings were some of the reasons for increased feelings of anxiety and depression. However, students themselves are already taking action. In autumn 2019, the Swiss Student Union, the Swiss Medical Students’ Association, and Mind-Map, a University of Basel student mental health association, launched the Student Minds Project, a national campaign to promote student mental health. In April 2020 it will conduct a national survey on student mental health at Swiss universities. Student Minds spokeswoman Bea Albermann, from the Swiss Medical Students’ Association, says that there is currently no comprehensive data on student mental health across Switzerland, so it’s difficult to back the claims of a rise in stress statistically. She added that the campaign’s survey should be able to address this gap and will also look at the support services offered at these institutions. Hopefully, these initiatives will enable a broader discussion of mental health in Swiss society as Switzerland continues to be ranked in the top 10 happiest countries in the world. **********

The first nude restaurant in Basel is due to open end of February. The aim of the proprietor and former brothel owner is to open a restaurant that will attract ‘normal people’ along with nudists and allow them to play out their nudist interests. However not all nudists are thrilled. The nudist association is generally not against the idea, but some are worried that the reputation of the former brothel owner along with the naked waiters are more reminiscent of a swinger club or a playboy bar. It is also not particularly hygenic they say, so true nudists will not be going.   Skeptics say this restaurant will close faster than anyone can take their clothes off. Bratwurst and Schnitzel jokes aside, one is left to wonder how dining might work with naked waiters and patrons to distract from one's meal.