AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:22 p.m. ESTAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.

Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay home after rebel takeoverIOWA CITY, Iowa — Jahmal Banks let out deep breath that would have been visible a few minutes earlier on the Kinnick Stadium field as the pom-pom atop his red stocking cap bobbed. What’s left? The Nebraska senior receiver hadn’t really considered it yet. His spirits — not to mention body temperature — were too down in the moments after another walk-off loss to Iowa. Regular season over, with this fifth defeat in six games stinging more as the numbness began to wear off. “Get better,” Banks said finally. “Craft. At the end of the day, it’s still football. For the people who are going to be with us, we’ll give everything we have. And just keep going.” The day after the Iowa game has been Blacker Saturday for Nebraska for most of the last decade. It usually marks the end of games and beginning of an offseason of reflection and roster change while other teams play in December and January. These Huskers will be busier. Early signing day moved up even earlier this cycle from mid-December to Wednesday and NU — at 19 known commits into the weekend and potential targets still in the balance — will try to close better than it did in Iowa City. The transfer portal opens Dec. 9 and coach Matt Rhule has said he expects upwards of 50 players to enter as the program begins to trim its roster from 150-plus on the way to next year’s mandated maximum size of 105. Of course, Nebraska will be an active shopper in the free-agent market, too. Unlike the past seven seasons, though, bowl season will also include a Nebraska bowl game. A year ago the matchups for possible bowls the Huskers are contenders for now — including the Music City, Guaranteed Rate, Pinstripe, GameAbove Sports and Duke’s Mayo — were announced the Sunday after conference championship weekend. That gives NU a full week to chew on yet another one-score loss before it has an opponent for which to prepare. While a crowd of Iowa players reveled in boisterous extended postgame interviews, only a few Huskers spoke. Those brief sessions — for just a few minutes each as the team hurried to pack up and return to Lincoln — were more about the future than the painful immediate past. Quarterback Dylan Raiola — like his new offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen — said he knew he would take at least a day or two off. “I’m not really sure what’s going to happen next, what bowl we’re going to or what’s going on,” the freshman said. “We’ll figure that out soon.” Senior defensive lineman Ty Robinson wore a straight face as he considered that his sixth and final college season would last longer than any of the others. Even with a likely NFL future coming, don’t count him as part of the modern trend of postseason opt-outs “Come back on Monday,” Robinson said. “It’s new for me so I don’t really know what to expect. I’m excited to be a part of it, though. I love this program. I love that I get to be able to practice and play football for the next few weeks and get to go to a bowl game.” Rhule — as angry as he was upset late Friday — said the Iowa result should “probably bother people” for a while. It should fester with younger players who will be back in red inside Kinnick Stadium in 2026. At some point, he said, Nebraska needs to finish. Chasing three points was the program’s season-long motto and ultimately the Hawkeyes were the ones who caught the triple. “It’s just where we’re at, you know what I mean?” Rhule said. “As dumb as that sounds, we have to get better. Have to get better.” Nebraska has objectively improved in areas from the beginning of the year. The defense was dominant save for one disastrous sequence on the 72-yard touchdown that began with a swing pass to Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson and included five missed tackles. The offense under Holgorsen moved and controlled the ball. But the shortcomings were on display, too. The Huskers forced no takeaways for a second time in November. Too many potential big plays on offense went unmade or unseen. Special teams featured another catastrophic moment on the muffed punt and a series of lesser miscues that consistently tilted field position toward the Hawkeyes. Friday wasn’t the season finale this time. Even it felt like it in the cold. “Losing this game doesn’t do justice to see all the success and the strides we’ve made as a team,” Raiola said. “But that’s what it is right now.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Game turned into The Fight. As Michigan celebrated a 13-10 win over No. 2-ranked Ohio State , some Wolverines players made their way to midfield in an attempt to plant a Block M flag. Predictably, chaos ensued and a fight broke out. An on-field view of the Michigan flag plant and the altercation with Ohio State that followed ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/If9Ng7ecW0 Amid the chaos, players from both teams were hit with pepper spray by police. Clips emerged on social media of Michigan players squinting and trying to clear their eyes . Eventually, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer got his hands on the Michigan flag and ripped it from the pole. It still was a lengthy delay before the teams could be separated. Police ended up forming a wall between them. The aftermath pic.twitter.com/OHz4vaUo1W For Michigan, it’s a fourth straight win the rivalry. Running back Kalel Mullings was interviewed by FOX right after the brawl. “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game,” Mullings said . “That’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, some people gotta — they gotta learn how to lose, man. You can’t be fighting and stuff just because you lost a game. We had 60 minutes, four quarters to do all that fighting. And now they want to talk and fight. That’s wrong. That’s just bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People gotta be better.” BETTING: Check out our guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. Latest Michigan football news: What Ohio State’s Ryan Day said after his fourth straight loss to Michigan Watch Michigan-Ohio State postgame fight; players hit with pepper spray Michigan has officially broken the Ohio State football program Kalel Mullings on postgame Michigan-Ohio State fight: ‘Gotta learn how to lose’ Michigan stuns No. 2 Ohio State for fourth straight win in rivalry

Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingNoneKashyap "Kash" Patel is receiving high marks from Senate Republicans in his quest to be President-elect Donald Trump's next FBI director. The 44-year-old former federal prosecutor and national security official, considered a Trump loyalist by many, has promised major changes to the country's top law enforcement agency . Like many of the president-elect's supporters, Patel has been a vocal critic of the so-called "deep state" or longtime members of the country's national security bureaucracy. "Kash Patel is an agent of transformation. He’ll do a great job," Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, told USA Today. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said he hadn't met Patel one-on-one but had spoken to him previously. "Kash is great," he said. "Can’t wait to get Kash there." Patel's nomination signals Trump wants to remove current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who the former president nominated in 2017 to what was supposed to be a 10-year term. "We still don't know what Director Wray's plans are," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters Monday. "But eventually I assume Mr. Patel will be confirmed as the next FBI director." Wray has fallen out of favor with Trump and his GOP allies in Congress, who hold resentment toward the bureau for its investigations aimed at the former president, such as his possession of national security documents his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, which were discovered after he left the White House. Other Republicans have called out the FBI for a federal court ruling in July that said the agency failed to alert social media companies that a story about Hunter Biden’s laptop was real rather than Russian disinformation days before the 2020 presidential election. In a stinging 11-page letter, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, blasted Wray for what he described as "failed" leadership. The incoming Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said Monday he has "seen enough" and that Wray should step aside. But some GOP senators told USA TODAY they don’t know much about Patel, who has been criticized by Democrats and nonpartisan groups for lacking the experience to lead the FBI and for peddling conspiracy theories about federal government employees, the COVID-19 vaccine and more. Trump's former Attorney General Bill Barr wrote in his memoir "One Damn Thing After Another" that he remembers saying Patel's appointment to deputy FBI director would happen "over my dead body." "Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world's preeminent law enforcement agency," Barr wrote in the 2022 book. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said he thinks Patel will do a "good job," but notes he didn’t serve with Patel and doesn’t know him as well as other Trump cabinet picks, such as Pam Bondi who has been nominated for attorney general. “Honestly, I don't know anything about him," Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, said. "His name was vaguely familiar to me, but I don't know his background, his experience. I'm going to need to do a lot of work on his nomination. The FBI post is a really important one, but I just don't have an opinion." Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, Bart Jansen and Sudiksha Kochi