lot of news lately

My blue lacecap hydrangea is blooming. 
The air quality was much, much better today. 

Kazakhstan has been an ally and partner of Russia's for decades. It shared the longest border with Russia. It refused to recognize the provinces Russia took and declared independent states. It refused to agree with Russia's reasons for invading Ukraine. Now the President will not attend Russia's annual economic forum. 

This forum used to host world political and buisness leaders. Now people avoid it. 

Japan offered Ukraine $5 million emergency humanitarian aid after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. They also offered to host a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction early next year. 

The Associated Press did an analysis of a video Russia released this week. Russia said the video was of them blowing up eight German-made Leopard tanks. The video shows them destroying a tractor, a self-propelled sprayer, and two combines. 

The Russian embassy said it destroyed three French-made tanks, which have six wheels and are low to the ground. The video they supplied showed they hit a vehicle with four large wheels and high off the ground, probably another self-propelled sprayer. "Self-propelled" means it can be driven, it doesn't have to be attached and pulled by another vehicle. 

The destroyed vehicles were parked in the open. Tank crews tend to hide in vegetation or behind buildings and then they come out and shoot.