Russian President Vladimir Putin taunted the US Thursday by challenging America’s military to a “duel” to see if its defense systems could stop the Kremlin’s new hypersonic ballistic missile . During his end-of-the-year conference, Putin mocked the West’s claims that the new Oreshnik missile , capable of carrying a nuclear payload, was not as deadly as Moscow claims following its limited use against Ukraine. The Russian leader then suggested the US pick a target to protect and see if its defense systems would be up to the task of stopping the Oreshnik. “We’re ready for such an experiment,” Putin said, adding that Western technology “stands no chance.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was shocked by the challenge Putin put forth, telling reporters that it would be crazy for two superpowers to directly test their weapons against each other in such a way. “Do you think he is a sane person?” Zelensky asked reporters at a news conference hours later. The Oreshnik, Russian for hazel tree, was reportedly based on Moscow’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile and is capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads . The rocket hit speeds of nearly 8,500 miles per hour after it was launched from the 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region last month, decimating a military site in Dnipro. The missile can fly between 310 to 3,400 miles, officials have said, putting all of Europe at risk. Along with the challenge to the US, Putin reiterated threats against Kyiv, suggesting Ukraine’s “decision-making centers” were viable targets in the war. The threat was made after Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s nuclear weapons department, was killed in a scooter explosion in Moscow earlier this week. Kirillov was the highest-ranking Russian official to be killed since the war began in February 2022. Despite claiming to be confident in Russia’s invasion progress, Putin said he would be willing to agree to a cease-fire agreement on the condition that the US do the bulk of the work getting Kyiv to agree. He said he was ready for such conversations to take place under the incoming Trump administration, warning the US that Russia is not in a weaker position to bargain with. “If I ever meet with the newly elected president, Mr. Trump, I am sure we’ll have something to talk about,” Putin said. With Post wiresUkrainian museum chief explains not returning from trip abroad
Penn State just pulled off a true shocker on the recruiting trail, one that changes the entire perception of the 2025 class. High four-star tight end Andrew Olesh of Southern Lehigh announced his commitment to Penn State on Friday during a live-streamed event at his high school. Olesh, committed to Michigan since July 8, had recently become the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 3 tight end in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. He immediately became the highest-rated player in the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class. Penn State and James Franklin signed all 26 of their 2025 commitments when the early signing period opened Wednesday . The class ranked 17th nationally by the end of the day, but the Nittany Lions were still waiting with eyes primarily on Olesh and four-star quarterback Bryce Baker as potential flip targets . Now with Olesh’s commitment in tow, Penn State has jumped one spot to 16th. The 6-5, 215-pound Olesh took 10 visits to Penn State in his recruitment, including an official visit over the summer on June 14. He went to Michigan one week later and eventually made his pledge, but Penn State and Oregon both stayed in hot pursuit. He came back to Happy Valley for the Ohio State game on Nov. 2, returned to Michigan for on Nov. 22 and then went to Eugene for an official visit with the Ducks on the final weekend of the regular season. With Olesh’s recruitment still clearly in flux, Michigan made a huge move in adding No. 1 overall 2025 prospect Bryce Underwood at quarterback. That seemed likely to appeal to Olesh, while Penn State appeared to pivot late in the cycle. Three-star tight end Brian Kortovich flipped from Purdue to Penn State on Tuesday. Somehow, the Nittany Lions still won out for Olesh in the end. Franklin, when asked this season about tight ends coach Ty Howle and his role in developing star Tyler Warren, used the opportunity to semi-publicly recruit Olesh. Clearly, the message worked. “If you’re a great tight end in the country, and specifically in the state of Pennsylvania, I don’t know how you couldn’t come here,” Franklin said in mid-November . “There’s just too much history, there’s too much data and there’s too many things saying that you don’t need to go anywhere else. You can stay home and get everything you want in terms of your college career, and also setting yourself up for your future.” Adding the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania completely changes to outlook of this cycle for Penn State. The Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State in January for then-No. 1 Pa. player and defensive end Zahir Mathis. Then talented four-star quarterback Matt Zollers went to Missouri. Speedy wide receiver Lex Cyrus — at one of Penn State’s biggest positions of need — went to South Carolina. And Olesh went away to Michigan. Things looked bleak in the state. Now just a few months later, Penn State stole Olesh from the Wolverines’ grasp, and Mathis decommitted from Ohio State with the Nittany Lions squarely in the picture for his services. Franklin and Co. have made a late push to complete their goal of “dominating the state,” and it’s starting to pay off. Olesh has become a headlining player in a Penn State class that didn’t have many before his commitment. The Nittany Lions now hold three tight ends in the 2025 class, with Olesh joining Kortovich and four-star Virginia product Matt Henderson. BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. Sign up for the PennLive’s Penn State newsletters, the daily Penn State Today and the subscriber-exclusive Penn State Insider ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — If things had worked out differently, wide receiver Ladd McConkey might have been standing on the New England Patriots’ sideline Saturday at Gillette Stadium, watching Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert shred his defensive teammates during a 40-7 victory . Instead, McConkey set Chargers rookie records for receptions and receiving yards in a season Saturday. He caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 77 receptions and 1,054 receiving yards, breaking Keenan Allen’s marks of 71 catches and 1,046 yards in 2013. McConkey is one touchdown shy of Allen’s rookie record of eight. When the Chargers jettisoned Allen and Mike Williams in a pair of cost-saving moves during the offseason, new General Manager Joe Hortiz had the notion of selecting a standout wide receiver near the top of his to-do list going into the draft. Hortiz picked right tackle Joe Alt with his first-round pick . Hortiz then made what seemed at the time like a minor move. He swapped his second-round pick for the Patriots’ second-round selection, moving up from 37th to 34th to take McConkey , a standout from the University of Georgia. Hortiz added the 137th overall pick as a sweetener to complete the trade. So, it was that McConkey torched the team that ended up trading him. “No extra motivation or anything like that,” McConkey said, laughing when asked about facing the Patriots for the first time since the draft back in April. “I was excited to get drafted. I didn’t care that I got traded. I’m right where I’m supposed to be. It’s a cool moment. I’m glad they drafted me.” McConkey recalled he met with the Chargers only briefly during the Senior Bowl. He didn’t have any inkling that they would have any special interest in drafting him. Little did he know how easily he would mesh with his teammates, and especially Herbert, who has called him a “quarterback’s best friend.” “I always believed in myself, but I didn’t know,” McConkey said of his mindset going into his rookie season. “I didn’t know. Obviously, I wanted to get as many yards as I could and contribute as much as I could. In a sense, I really didn’t think about this, but it is pretty cool. I feel like it just developed.” EXTRA POINTS Derwin James Jr. sacked Patriots quarterback Drake Maye twice and recovered Maye’s fumble, one of several stellar defensive players Saturday. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu also sacked Maye once apiece. The Chargers limited Maye to 12 for 22 passing for 117 yards and one touchdown. ... Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 27, 38, 41 and 35 yards for the Chargers. He accounted for the only points in their 6-0 victory last season over the Patriots, a game played in a steady downpour that limited the Chargers’ offenses to only two successful possessions. ... Wide receiver Joshua Palmer suffered a heel injury and didn’t return to the game. He was walking with the aid of crutches after the game. Defensive back Elijah Molden departed the game on a cart after suffering a shin injury on a non-contact play. Molden wore a walking boot after the game.
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