Russia - Light tunnels were installed in Moscow on the eve of the New Year
Specialists of the municipal economy complex have installed festive light tunnels in Moscow. This was announced on Friday, October 5, by the Deputy Mayor of the capital for Housing and Communal Services and landscaping, Peter Biryukov.
Biryukov clarified that one of the most popular tunnels was once again placed on Tverskaya Boulevard, a 100—meter multimedia structure capable of broadcasting figures and lighting effects. On Nikitsky Boulevard, the Crystal Tunnel was renovated, replacing the lighting and adding elements in the form of icicles. A 50-meter light tunnel appeared on Gogolevsky Island.
You can read more about this here.
Germany - German cities pull plug on ‘too costly’ Christmas lights
Several German cities have scaled back or scrapped traditional Christmas illuminations this year, citing soaring costs and strained municipal budgets as the festive season begins.
Source: brusselssignal.eu
The move, highlighted in a report by newspaper Bild yesterday, has sparked concerns over a “dark” holiday atmosphere, with trade groups warning that the “festive glow” in town centres is at risk.
This trend is driven by inflation, higher energy prices, failed green policies, uncontrolled migration which led to uncontrolled expenses, and competing public spending priorities, with some cities facing significant financial shortfalls.
- In Stuttgart, luminous sculptures were not installed because the cost was deemed too high.
- Dresden left 80 lime trees on Königstrasse unlit after failing to allocate funds for garlands and pruning.
- Magdeburg redirected €400,000 originally set for decorations toward repairing failing bridges.
- In Heidelberg, lights are switched on later and turned off earlier to reduce electricity bills.
- Hanover faces uncertainty, as its €135,000 annual lighting budget is short by €30,000.
- Berlin’s illuminations are only possible due to a crowdfunding campaign.
- Residents in smaller towns like Luckenwalde and Hildesheim have launched crowdfunding efforts to restore their displays.
The situation reflects broader fiscal challenges, with the mayor of Essen warning that almost every German city is on the verge of bankruptcy, citing a nationwide municipal deficit of €30 billion for 2025.
Meanwhile, Germany is spending another $500 million to fund the war in Ukraine, it's pledging 100 milion euro more to Ukraine energy fund, it approved €3 billion in new military aid for 2025, bringing its total military assistance since 2022 to approximately €38 billion, making it the second-largest donor after the United States.
This, just in case the German taxpayer asks where their money is going.
