(CNN) Novak Djokovic dismissed fears of serious injury after winning the opening match of his title defense at the US Open.
The world No. 1 was taken to four sets by 247th-ranked Pole Jerzy Janowicz in his first tournament since losing his first singles match at this month's Rio Olympics.
Djokovic admitted before the season's final grand slam that his injured wrist has not fully healed, and Monday he had to call for a trainer in the first set to treat his right arm.
"Calling for the medical timeout was just prevention," the 29-year-old told reporters. "It's all good; to be honest, I take it day by day."
"It's getting better and better each day. I'm glad that I'm experiencing that so hopefully, as the tournament progresses, I'll reach my peak."
The Serb will face Jiri Vesely in the second round on Wednesday. The 49th-ranked Czech beat India's Saketh Myneni in five sets.
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Fourth seed Rafael Nadal continued his recent promising run of form by beating Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in three sets, dropping only seven games in the process.
The Spaniard has been troubled by a battery of ailments over the past two years. A wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the French Open and kept him out of Wimbledon.
However, Nadal bounced back at the Olympics, winning a gold medal with doubles partner Marc Lopez and reaching the bronze medal match, which he lost to Kei Nishikori.
The two-time US Open champion will next play Italy's Andreas Seppi.
Raonic and McEnroe end coaching ties
Fifth seed Milos Raonic beat German Dustin Brown in straight sets, following a surprise announcement that his coaching tie with John McEnroe had ended.
A photo posted by Milos Raonic (@mraonic) on Aug 29, 2016 at 8:30pm PDT
McEnroe cited his various media commitments as being a hindrance to his coaching duties with the 25-year-old Canadian at Wimbledon, despite the world No. 6 making it all the way to his first grand slam final.
McEnroe indicated that their parting was by mutual consent, and left the door open to the pair working together in the future.
"It's best to sort of separate at this stage," McEnroe told ESPN, one of his employers. "It will just make life easier for everyone."
Raonic, who will next play American Ryan Harrison, told reporters: "It's a decision we're both okay with. We spoke about it, were up front, and there's no ill feelings over it."
Tiafoe shines in grand slam debut
Teenage wildcard entry Frances Tiafoe tested compatriot John Isner, racing to a two-set lead before the long-standing US No. 1 battled back to triumph in a fifth-set tiebreak.
As temperatures reached into the 90s in New York, the six-foot 10-inch Isner needed 35 aces to defeat the 18-year-old from Maryland, who failed to serve out for the match in the final set.
A photo posted by Frances Tiafoe (@bigfoe1998) on Aug 7, 2016 at 7:05pm PDT
"At such a young age, he seems to be the type of kid that can rise up to the big occasion, big moment, and great atmosphere," Isner told reporters of the 2015 US national junior champion. "I can't say enough about Frances. He has a fantastic future.
"He's got wheels; he's got the hands; he's got shots on both sides. One area, if he improves his second serve a little bit. But I would certainly buy stock in him right now, for sure."
Isner, the 20th seed, next faces Belgium's Steve Darcis as he seeks to build on last year's fourth-round appearance. The 31-year-old has never got past the quarterfinals in nine attempts at his home slam.
Vinci advances
Last year's surprise finalist in the women's tournament, Roberta Vinci, sailed past her first-round opponent Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-2 6-4.
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The Italian seventh seed, who ended Serena Williams' bid to complete her first career grand slam in the semifinals before losing to compatriot Flavia Pennetta, will next play American Christina McHale.
French Open winner Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain took three sets to beat Belgian Elise Mertens. The third seed, who lost in round two last year, next faces 48th-ranked Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.
Olympic champion Monica Puig, who beat Muguruza on the way to winning Puerto Rico's historic first Olympic gold medal, suffered a first-round defeat against China's Saisai Zheng.
Second seed Angelique Kerber, the silver medalist in Rio, had easy progress into round two after Slovenian opponent Polona Hercog retired while trailing 6-0 1-0.
The German, who can replace Williams as world No. 1 by winning the title at Flushing Meadows, will next play Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni -- who made her grand slam debut here as a 15-year-old in 1997.
Tuesday's highlights
Serena Williams, who has been battling a shoulder injury, will play Russian Ekaterina Makarova Tuesday as she begins her bid for an Open-Era record 23rd grand slam title.
Her sixth-seeded older sister Venus Williams is up against Ukraine's Kateryna Koslova.
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Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska and Romania's No. 5 Simona Halep are also in action, against American Jessica Pegula and Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens respectively.
Olympic men's champion Andy Murray plays Czech Lukas Rosol, third seed Stan Wawrinka begins against Spain's Fenrando Verdasco, world No. 7 Nishikori takes on Benjamin Becker of Germany, while Olympic men's singles runner-up Del Potro faces fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

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London (CNN) Steffi Graf and Serena Williams played each other twice, and walked away with a win each.
But when it comes to winning grand slams, Graf is rooting for Williams to break her Open era record of 22 major singles titles at this month's US Open.
"I'm cheering her on, yes," the former top-ranked German told CNN's Open Court in an interview at the Rio Olympics . "Because it's great for the sport. Why not? She's done so much for the sport. She's out there working hard."
'I hope she does break it'
Aged 47 and now living in Las Vegas with husband and eight-time grand slam winner Andre Agassi and their two children, Graf said she wouldn't mind being knocked out of the history books by Williams.
"I'm happy for her, I'm excited for her," Graf said. "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it has been great to watch. I hope she does break it."
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Williams, who turns 35 next month, tied Graf's slam record at Wimbledon , where she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber to clinch her seventh title at the All-England Club.. A double Olympic champion at the 2012 London Games, Williams was less successful in Rio where she was upset in the first round of the doubles event with sister Venus and in the third round of singles
Dubbed "Fraulein Forehand" by the late American tennis writer Bud Collins, Graf's game was built around a blistering forehand, athleticism and superb footwork.
Photos: Graf backing Serena Serena Williams is currently tied on 22 grand slam wins with Steffi Graf -- a joint-Open era record -- but can move ahead of the German with victory at this year's US Open. Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf has backed Williams to make the record her own, telling CNN: "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it's been great to watch, and I hope she does break it." Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf's record could be beaten, she still remains the first and only tennis player to achieve the "Golden Slam" after winning all four grand slam titles and Olympic gold in the same calendar year in 1988. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf, who is married to fellow former tennis star Andre Agassi, is also the only tennis player in history to have won each grand slam event at least four times. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Williams, who has yet to achieve the calendar grand slam, won Olympic gold in the singles in 2012 but suffered a third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at this year's Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena "I think she's been unbelievable, she's been amazing to watch," Graf added of Williams. "She's been around for over 20 years and to have a career and play at the level that she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable. I have so much respect for her." Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf and Williams hold the joint-Open era record for most grand slam wins, Margaret Court boasts the overall record, with the Australian racking up 24 titles during her career. Hide Caption 7 of 7
She dominated women's tennis in the late 1980s and 1990s, when she won 107 tournaments and topped the rankings for a record 377 weeks.
After winning her 22nd slam at the 1999 French Open where she beat Martina Hingis in a dramatic final, Graf retired shortly after her 30th birthday.
Longevity
Having struggled with injuries in her final years on tour, Graf is amazed by the longevity of some of the top players still competing for the big titles well into their 30s.
"I have a lot of respect for all these players," she said. "I'm looking at Roger Federer. You get into the sport at the sport at a young age and you play eleven months a year. It's physically and mentally very demanding. I think it's pretty amazing."
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Graf played then 17-year-old Williams twice in 1999, winning the first encounter in Sydney before losing the second in the final at Indian Wells, California, a few months later.
"She's been around for over 20 years," Graf said about US Open title favorite Williams. "To have that career and play at the level she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable."
Golden Slam safe, for now
Williams may soon become the most successful player since tennis turned professional in 1968, there is one record she's unlikely to take from Graf.
The German remains the only player to have won the so-called Golden Slam in 1988, when she swept all four majors and Olympic tennis gold at the Seoul Games.
Tennis was never about breaking records said Graf, who turned professional aged 13.
"It wasn't about numbers, it wasn't about am I going to win this many tournaments or grand slams," Graf said. "I was just striving to be the best. I'm happy where I ended up. I'm happy where I am in my life."

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Story highlights Britain's Gabriella Taylor was forced to withdraw from last month's Wimbledon after falling ill
She holds a world tennis ranking of 419
London (CNN) Britain's Metropolitan Police has revealed it is investigating claims that a female tennis player was deliberately poisoned during this year's Wimbledon.
Though police haven't confirmed the victim's name, 18-year-old Gabriella Taylor was forced to withdraw from the girl's junior tournament quarter-finals in July and spent four days in intensive care.
For those who don't know, I have been in intensive care in Southampton general hospital these past 4 days suffering from an unknown cause. — Gabriella Taylor (@gabitaylorr) July 11, 2016
In a statement, police said a woman fell ill on July 6 and it was investigating "an allegation of poisoning with intent to endanger life (or) cause grievous bodily harm."
It said the incident, which is alleged to have taken place at Wimbledon, was received on August 5 and that it is "unknown where or when the poison was ingested."
At the time, Taylor posted several tweets about the mysterious illness, having to clarify it was a virus, not food poisoning, that forced her to retire.
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(CNN) All eyes will surely focus on Andy Murray for the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the season.
The Scot has enjoyed something of a fabulous year, not least because he became a father for the first time -- his wife Kim gave birth to Sophia in February -- but also due to a bumper year of trophies.
Not content with winning Wimbledon for a second time, he was chosen to carry the flag for Team GB for the Rio Games and then successfully defended his Olympic title after an epic struggle with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, becoming the first man to retain the Olympic singles accolade.
After the gold medal match, he cast his mind back to another tough contest when he won the US Open in 2012, telling reporters: "I think the US Open final I played against Novak (Djokovic) when I won my first slam was very hard. But tonight I found really difficult.
"It was one of the toughest matches that I've played to win a big event, for sure."


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(CNN) Once again, history is on the line for Serena Williams at the US Open.
But, as Williams is trying to protect her No. 1 ranking and chase an Open era record 23rd grand slam title, the final tennis major of 2016 could also provide the perfect setting for a new generation of American players eager to be cast as her potential successor.
With the 34-year-old Williams no longer dominating, and struggling with a shoulder injury that derailed her Olympics campaign, 21-year-old Madison Keys sees her as an inspiration.
"The biggest thing that I'm always very impressed with is her fire, she's No. 1 in the world, she's won all these grand slams, but she always wants more," Keys told CNN ahead of the New York tournament, where she will be the eighth seed when the two-week event starts Monday.
"I don't think very many people have that characteristic, and seeing that so much is probably one of the biggest reasons why she's done what she's done," said Keys, who just like Williams has a hugely powerful serve and aggressive game style.
Will women's shock results continue?
If the past 12 months are anything to go by, we could be in for another surprise in New York.
After Roberta Vinci pulled one of the greatest upsets of all time by ending Williams' historic quest to win the first "calendar slam" since 1988 in last September's semifinals, the US Open was won by fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta, who promptly announced her retirement.
Williams during her loss to Vinci at last year's U.S. Open.
Williams then lost in January's Australian Open final to Germany's Angelique Kerber -- who will be guaranteed the No. 1 ranking if she wins the title on September 10 -- while Spain's Garbine Muguruza outplayed her in the final at Roland Garros.
Williams, who turns 35 next month, then pulled out of this month's US Open warmup event in Cincinnati, citing a shoulder injury.
She will begin her bid for history against Russian Ekaterina Makarova in a rematch of their 2014 semifinal, which Williams won before lifting the US Open trophy for the sixth time, equaling Evert's Open-era record.
Her older sister Venus -- one of Keys' childhood idols -- is seeded sixth. The two-time US Open champ -- a quarterfinalist last year -- faces Ukraine's Kateryna Kozlova first up.
Right mindset
Keys is in the other half of the draw to the Williams duo, and faces fellow American Alison Riske in the first round.
Although she has always had immense talent, Keys believes she has finally found the right mindset to be a contender for a grand slam title.
Ever since she broke through in 2015, reaching the Australian Open semifinals and Wimbledon quarterfinals, Keys has been widely touted as "the next Serena."
Williams declared herself " a fan" of Keys after beating her in last year's Melbourne semis, saying: "It was an honor for me to play someone who will be ranked No. 1 in the future."
But thanks to Thomas Hogstedt, a Swede who turned Maria Sharapova into a French Open champion, Keys has found the right consistency to become a top-10 tennis player.
"He's really helped me mostly on things that are on the practice court -- having a very focused and intense practice where there is really no lapses in focus," Keys, who has reached the fourth round in all three slams this year, told CNN.
"My practice may only be one hour, 15 minutes, but it's very high intensity, very focused and we get a lot done. That is shifting over to my match play, where I feel I used to have two or three games of bad decisions, or loss of focus. And now, instead of three games, it's maybe two points."
Keys' big serve is well-suited to grass courts, where she's won two career titles.
Youngest top-10 member
At the age of nine, the Rock Island, Illinois native moved to Florida with her family to train at the academy run by 18-time grand slam winner Chris Evert and her brother John, who became her coach.
After winning several prestigious junior events, Keys turned pro in 2009 and became the youngest player since Martina Hingis in 1994 to win a main draw WTA match at an event in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida aged 14. By 2013, she made the top 50.
Keys was guided by former Wimbledon winner Lindsay Davenport during her breakout season in 2015. After brief spells with former U.S. tennis pro Jesse Levine and former top-ranked Mats Wilander at the start of 2016, Keys started working with Hogstedt in April. Having struggled with injuries in the past, she now also travels with renowned fitness trainer Scott Byrnes.
The changes have paid off.
Known for an aggressive playing style built around one of the most powerful serves in the women's game, Keys won a grass-court event in Birmingham, England in June to become the first American woman to reach the top 10 of the women's tour since Serena Williams in 1999. At 21, she's also the youngest member of the elite group.
Other highlights included reaching the final on clay in Rome, where she lost to Serena, and on hard court in Montreal, where she was beaten by former No. 2 Simona Halep. At the Rio Olympics, Keys played for the bronze medal.
Although she lost out to two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, Keys called her first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro "one of the coolest experiences of my life."
In between her tennis commitments, she watched the swimming and saw Simone Biles excel in the gymnastics arena.
Backed by a tennis legend
Chris Evert has been so impressed with Keys' progress that she tipped her as one of the main challengers for Williams alongside more established names such as second-ranked Kerber, third-ranked Muguruza and No. 5 Halep, a semifinalist in New York last year.
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"You really have to make that mental and emotional commitment to the game," Evert said in a conference call for tennis writers organized by U.S. broadcaster ESPN this week. "I think that's what Madison Keys is learning right now. She's made more of a commitment to tennis. She could still be better."
If Keys keeps the right mindset, Evert adds, anything is possible.
"I'm a Madison Keys fan because of her power on her serve and her ground strokes," she said. "And if she could ever get it all together and believe and trust herself and play her 'A Game,' she could be a threat."

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Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy Story by Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Photographs by Sarah Tilotta for CNN
-- A brutal earthquake strikes a remote mountain city in the dead of night. By the time the dust settles, hundreds have died. But this isn’t the earthquake from seven days ago, it happened seven years previously. And the city is still in recovery.
L'Aquila lies about 50 km (31 miles) from Amatrice, the town at the center of last week’s earthquake in central Italy. In the early hours of April 6, 2009, L’Aquila’s heart was ripped out in an earthquake that killed 309 people.
The L’Aquila earthquake devastated the historic hilltop city, leveling homes and destroying the medieval, baroque and renaissance gems within; its abandoned center offers a grim prediction for the future of Amatrice and other quake-stricken towns.
A view of L’Aquila from the southeast. A chained door in the “zona rossa,” or red zone.
Both quakes were at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 miles) and both struck at about 3:30 a.m., as people slept in their beds.
“There was a big bang, an explosion and the whole house was shaking left and right,” recalls Davide Tonati, a 36-year-old L’Aquila survivor, who lived in the city center.
“Screams were coming from everywhere.”
Tonati, then 29, and his parents were some of the lucky ones. They escaped unscathed, the family home their only casualty.
Empty streets in the “zona rossa.”
“My house is the same as it was on April 6, 2009. Exactly the same,” he says with a sigh. “We can go in the house with police or firemen for security but I can’t go … by myself.”
Tonati is one of the tens of thousands of residents of L’Aquila and the communities around it who were displaced by the earthquake. Seven years on, their houses and businesses have not been declared safe by authorities.
A religious fresco adorns a damaged house. A memorial book for the 309 victims of the 2009 earthquake.
Today, the “zona rossa” -- or red zone -- remains in place, and the vast majority of structures within lie abandoned. The parallels between the two places have not gone unnoticed and many see L’Aquila as an example of things to come for survivors in Amatrice and the villages around it.
Related: ‘The future is finished,’ say Italy earthquake survivors
Monsignor Paolo De Nicolo tours the red zone. Visiting from Rome, he is set to perform Santa Messa, or 'Holy Mass,' at the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio. Cranes tower over the historic city center where much of the reconstruction is still taking place.
“This is very emotional for us. It’s the same time and the same place,” says Giovanni Comoglio, one of the volunteers who responded to the disaster in 2009, standing at a memorial at the city’s college dormitory where 11 students died.
“We (in Italy) are suffering. This has brought strong feelings.”
Giovanni Comoligio views a memorial for the 11 students who died in a university dormitory that collapsed during the earthquake.
It’s a gloriously bright and sunny summer’s day when we visit L’Aquila, but only a handful of people wander along the cobbled avenues in the mid-afternoon.
A skyline of cranes rises high above the city, while countless angry fractures disfigure its once-beautiful buildings, now supported by a maze of scaffolding.
A significant section of the red zone is cordoned off from pedestrians. Shoes lie scattered across shelving in a former shop.
Litter fills an empty store in the red zone. An abandoned shopfront on the south end of L’Aquila, where damage was concentrated in student housing.
Doors hang off their hinges to reveal abandoned shops in the red zone, still filled with detritus and debris. Windows and rotting balconies have been stabilized with wooden frames and heavy-duty cables. The sound of birds and the inconsistent spurt of a nearby fountain pierce the quiet.
“The city is definitely coming back,” Comoglio says positively. “It’s very, very hard work (to rebuild). You must reconstruct with anti-seismic technology.
A man and woman take an evening stroll through the red zone.
“When the earthquake moves the ground, it breaks not only the foundations but also the water pipes, gas pipes. This is a very big problem because you have to go meter by meter. There is no way to do it fast… In time L’Aquila will come back.”
After ambling through row upon row of disheveled, forsaken side streets, we stumble out onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the busiest thoroughfare in town. The long pedestrian road flanked on both sides by tall, largely empty buildings, leads to the Piazza Duomo, the city’s main square.
Piazza del Duomo Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Here, parents walk, talking animatedly as their children run around. A sprinkling of bars, restaurants and a single gelato shop have moved back.
A server waits outside a restaurant before the Saturday dinner rush, on the main drag in the city center.
“The city is much better now,” says Nikos Katharosporis, a 35-year-old who splits his time between working as a mechanical engineer specializing in damage assessment and working part-time in a local restaurant.
“In the last few years you can feel the difference. More people are coming into the center of the town and a lot of restaurants have come back.”
People dine al fresco on a Saturday night in L’Aquila.
The sun sets. Larger crowds gather as the few bars and cafes open. Locals enjoy a “passeggiata” – an evening stroll. Friends stand laughing in the streets with drinks in hand. Teenagers congregate smoking and gossiping opposite the disused chamber of commerce.
The residents of L’Aquila are determined to revive the atmosphere of their pre-quake city.
But it’s a work-in-progress -- one that has been hit by allegations of corruption. Billions were earmarked by the Italian government in the aftermath of 2009 and much has been spent rehousing displaced people and restoring the city’s historical properties.
Related: Italy quake highlights our vulnerability to disaster
A derelict gas station. A building marked for demolition.
Meanwhile some residents are dissatisfied by the town’s revival, criticizing the allocation of funds spent on historical damage rather than their own neighborhoods.
"In the beginning, the response was good," says Tonati, a former L’Aquila resident. "But as time goes on, it is not as good. It’s too slow -- people think ‘How are you helping me?’"
“In Italy, corruption is the big problem. There are many politicians and bribes. It is the cancer in Italy."
He now lives in one of the temporary “new towns” swiftly constructed on the outskirts of L’Aquila with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
CNN contacted the city’s mayor for this story, but have not yet received a response.
After the quake, around 70,000 people from L’Aquila and the neighboring villages were left homeless. Towns ravaged by last week’s quake have seen around 2,500 people displaced.
Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has vowed to rebuild Amatrice and its surrounding communes -- but to some this sounds eerily like the pledges made by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi back in 2009.
A kitten represents the only inhabitants left in Fossa, a small hamlet about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from L’Aquila. A view of Fossa’s main street, where buildings are shuttered and abandoned.
For the people of L’Aquila, many had to relocate to new satellite towns after their homes were destroyed.
Tonati says these housing projects will do for now but he yearns to return to his childhood home, missing the sense of community felt in the city center.
One of the post-quake towns is the village of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which replaced the destroyed -- and now unoccupied -- hamlet of Fossa, where 700 people once lived.
Related: Why Italian region wasn’t prepared for earthquake
Two men stroll down the thoroughfare of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the community of Fossa has relocated.
The now 360-strong population live in a cluster of short wooden single-storey earthquake-resistant temporary houses, built neatly together on a small incline.
As we drive through the rows of small houses, women glance up as they hang their laundry on wire racks, noting our presence. We approached many houses to try talk to residents, but were turned away.
A congregation celebrates the union of a young couple at the new settlement.
On this August afternoon, it feels like the whole community is standing on the church steps in the center of the village, as a local couple's wedding gets underway inside. Guests laugh and smile, but there is an undercurrent of anger in the village.
A young woman in the congregation agreed to talk to us but declined to give her name.
Wedding guests take cover in the shade outside the church. The newlyweds sign their marriage license.
She says the village was supposed to be a temporary settlement but seven years on, there is still no word on when Fossa will be rebuilt.
“An earthquake first of all is very difficult psychologically. It’s difficult physically … on top of that you’ve lost the places where you’ve grown up, you’ve lost the people you’ve grown up with," she says. "It takes a very heavy toll on you.”
An elderly woman hangs laundry to dry outside the pre-fabricated houses built by volunteers in the months following the earthquake.
As the wedding crowd mingles, one of the guests, a bubbly, middle-aged man wanders over to greet people, appearing to know many of the congregation. He introduces himself as Luigi Calvisi, the village’s former mayor, and says Friuli Venezia Giulia was constructed with both disaster relief funds and donations. He recalls going door-to-door for donations to build the cornerstones of the new community, like the church.
“We wanted to give the people of the town a place where they can come together,” he says.
Life here has been hard, according to Calvisi, but the community stands united to face their future head on, something he thinks the people of Amatrice must do.
“It’s two very different types of earthquake," he says. "That can be difficult to understand but the numbers are exponentially different.
“They should be looking forward, I am positive because I have lived this before -- Italians are very generous.”
A back street in Friuli Venezia Giulia is named for the date of the L’Aquila earthquake.


Why the battle is far from over for survivors of last week's earthquake in central Italy


Story highlights Serena Williams cruises into round two
Sister Venus struggles through
Andy Murray wins in straight sets
Eugenie Bouchard crashes out
(CNN) Serena Williams sailed through her first-round match at the US Open, showing no signs of the shoulder injury that derailed her quest for Olympic gold in Rio -- but she revealed her ailment played some part in her eye-catching new outfit.
The top-seeded American eased to a 6-3 6-3 victory over Russian Ekaterina Makarova Tuesday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium as she bids for an Open-Era record 23rd grand slam singles title.
Williams hit 12 aces during the match but admitted that she was aiming for placement rather than power.
"I didn't hit my serves as hard as I normally hit them," the world No. 1, who next faces compatriot Vania King, told reporters. "I just went for more placement. I didn't go for the big 120s, just the regular.
"I was pleased with my serve because I haven't been hitting a lot of serves at all. In practice, none of them were going in, so I was definitely excited about that."
VERY strong outfit by Serena Williams. Liking the black superhero vibe. But with opera sleeves! Great stuff #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Z385OP7LNd — Uche Amako (@UcheAmako) August 31, 2016

US Open: Serena Williams starts bid for record 23rd slam


The American sailed through her first round tie at the US Open, showing no signs of the shoulder injury that derailed her quest for Olympic gold in Rio.


(CNN) Andy Murray made it a golden summer Sunday after adding the Rio 2016 Olympic men's tennis gold medal to his Wimbledon triumph.
Murray's stellar year showed no sign of stopping as he successfully defended his title, defeating Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5.
Britain's world No. 2, who beat Roger Federer for gold at London 2012, emerged victorious from an almighty four-hour struggle against a man whose run to the final has made him one of the most popular athletes of these Games.
"I know tonight's one of the hardest matches that I've had to play for a big, big title," Murray told reporters.
"I think the US Open final I played against Novak (Djokovic) when I won my first slam was very hard. But tonight I found really difficult.
"Emotionally it was tough. Physically, it was hard. There were so many ups and downs in the match.
"It was one of the toughest matches that I've played to win a big event, for sure."
Few gave 141st-ranked del Potro a chance of even getting past the first round after being paired with top seed Novak Djokovic.
But the Argentine not only eliminated Serbia's world No.1 but also accounted for 2008 Beijing gold medalist Rafael Nadal in the semifinals too.
He won bronze four years ago but a succession of wrist injuries have hampered what had promised to be an even more successful career.
Murray also helped Great Britain win the Davis Cup last November.
"After this week, the way things happened with the people, the emotions I felt -- in my career so far I've never lived something as beautiful as this," del Potro told reporters.
"Any athlete will give his best to be here and having this (Olympic medal) around my neck is a dream for any sportsman. To have the chance to have two is much more than a dream."
"Tennis is my life. I suffered when I wasn't able to play and today tennis is making me very happy again.
"I've been through some wonderful things here, on the court, at the Olympic village, talking to the people from Argentina.
"All of this happens because I'm playing tennis. For me, to talk about tennis, to play it, to be able to show my level of game, to be able to grunt when I hit my forehand, all these things I missed."
Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the men's 100m final, becoming the first Olympic sprinter to win three consecutive 100-meter gold medals. Hide Caption 1 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Chinese diver Qin Kai proposes to silver medalist diver He Zhi. Hide Caption 2 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk takes the lead in the men's 400-meter final. He went on to claim the gold and set a new world record. Hide Caption 3 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Angola's Albertina Cruz Kassoma, center, is fouled by Spain's Elizabet Chavez during a women's preliminary handball match. Hide Caption 4 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Australia's David Andersen drives to the basket past Venezuela's Nestor Colmenares. Hide Caption 5 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Sarah Elizabeth Robles of the US reacts after winning bronze in the women's +75kg weightlifting. Hide Caption 6 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Iran's Saeid Morad Abdvali celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the men's Greco-Roman 75 kg competition. Hide Caption 7 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 US goalie Merrill Moses saves a shot against Italy during in a men's water polo preliminary round match. The Americans won 10-7. Hide Caption 8 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 The Finn Class fleet in action during their second race of the day. Hide Caption 9 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Andy Murray returns to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the men's tennis final. The British player retained his title. Hide Caption 10 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Bubba Watson's shoes are seen during the final round of men's golf, won by Britain's Justin Rose. Hide Caption 11 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Brazil's Larissa Franca, center, is hugged by supporters after reaching the semifinals of the women's beach volleyball tournament with partner Talita Antunes. Hide Caption 12 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Canada's Eric Lamaze on Fine Lady competes during the equestrian's show jumping first qualifier event. Hide Caption 13 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Brazil's Diego Hypolito competes in the men's floor event final of the artistic gymnastics. Hide Caption 14 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Simone Biles smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the women's vault event final. Hide Caption 15 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Dorian van Rijsselberghe of the Netherlands celebrates winning the overall Men's RS:X windsurfing class. Hide Caption 16 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Justin Rose of Great Britain celebrates after winning in the final round of men's golf. Hide Caption 17 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Chinese diver He Zi enters the water in the Women's 3m Springboard final. She won silver and then received a wedding proposal from her boyfriend. Hide Caption 18 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Demarcus Cousins, right, shoots against Joffrey Lauvergne of France during a men's preliminary round Group A basketball game, which the US won 100-97. Hide Caption 19 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Max Whitlock won gold in the men's pommel horse final and also triumphed in the floor exercise -- the first Olympic titles won by a British gymnast. Hide Caption 20 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 American tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands celebrates after she and teammate Jack Sock beat compatriots Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram in their mixed doubles gold medal tennis match. Hide Caption 21 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Jemima Sumgong of Kenya becomes emotional during the podium ceremony for the Women's Marathon on Sunday, August 14. Sumgong is the first woman to win a gold medal in Olympic Marathon running for Kenya. Hide Caption 22 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Athletes compete in the 50m rifle 3 position qualifying event. Hide Caption 23 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Russia's duet Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina compete in the Duets Free Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event. The Russians would go on to win gold. Hide Caption 24 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Players compete during Badminton Singles on Sunday, August 14. Hide Caption 25 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Bronze medalist Arthur Mariano of Brazil salutes during the medal ceremony for Men's Gymnastics Floor Exercise. Hide Caption 26 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Great Britain's Nick Skelton, riding Big Star, competes during the Equestrian Jumping Individual and Team Qualifier. Hide Caption 27 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Ukraine's fencing team celebrates after winning the men's team epee quarter-final bout against Russia. Hide Caption 28 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Colombian synchronized swimming duet Estefania Alvarez Piedrahita and Monica Sarai Arango Estrada perform during the Duets Free Routine preliminaries. Hide Caption 29 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Facundo Callioni of Argentina celebrates with team mate Manuel Brunet after their 2-1 victory in a field hockey match against Spain. Hide Caption 30 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Runners compete in the Women's Marathon on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Sunday, August 14. Hide Caption 31 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 A Brazilian fan cheers before the start of the Women's Marathon. Hide Caption 32 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Members of the Brazilian military patrol the course before the start of the Women's Marathon. Hide Caption 33 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Francielle Rocha of Brazil, center, tries to get past Andela Bulatovic, left, and Katarina Bulatovic of Montenegro during a handball match between their two countries. Hide Caption 34 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Philippe Rozier of France, riding Rahotep De Toscane, looks ahead during the Jumping Individual and Team Qualifier. Hide Caption 35 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Mikko Ilonen of Finland takes a shot from the first tee at the Olympic Golf Course. Hide Caption 36 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon returns the birdie to Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin during their women's singles qualifying badminton match. Hide Caption 37 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Colombia's Carlos Andres Munoz Jaramillo, in red, is pulled to the ground by Hungary's Peter Bacsi in their men's 75kg greco-roman qualification match during the wrestling event. Hide Caption 38 of 39 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 9 Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa of Bahrain tries to stay cool by pouring water on her head as she runs alongside Visiline Jepkesho of Kenya. Hide Caption 39 of 39
Times have been tough for del Potro.
Since winning the US Open in 2009, the same year he also reached the last four at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, he has struggled in the grand slams.
A semifinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2013 remains his best recent run, while his last ATP tournament title came at Sydney in 2014.
Del Potro's renaissance has been one of the stories of the tournament, but Murray was widely expected to end the fairytale run.
The Scot took the first set after 74 minutes -- a microcosm of the lengthy contest to come.
The second set went the way of the 6-foot 6-inch del Potro, whose powerful forehand caused Murray continuous problems.
But back came Murray, taking the third as del Potro appeared to tire.
Del Potro was ranked 141 in the world at the start of the Olympics.
The fourth set was a far closer affair, with both men struggling to hold serve.
Del Potro served to level the match at 5-4 but was undone by some wonderful work by Murray, who forced his already struggling opponent to concede the break.
Murray, who had looked vulnerable on his serve throughout the set, staved off two break points to move 6-5 ahead.
Both men tightened up as the match moved towards its climax, with Murray wasting his first match point on the del Potro serve by netting a return.
Del Potro had the majority of the support but Murray's fans were in good voice too.
But he wasn't about to refuse a second invitation and when del Potro hit his shot into the net, Murray looked to the sky in disbelief.
The two men embraced at the net, hugging each other at the end of a marathon match.
Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro congratulates Britain's Andy Murray on winning the men's singles gold medal tennis match at the Olympic Tennis Centre of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / Luis Acosta (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images)
Murray cried into his towel while del Potro wiped away the tears from his eyes, taking the applause from a crowd which had backed him throughout the tournament.
For Murray, yet more history -- the first man to ever retain the Olympic singles title. For del Potro, who left the court to the crowd chanting his name, this is not the end -- but hopefully the beginning of a new chapter of the sport's most loved players.
Nadal, meanwhile, failed to add to his men's doubles gold from Rio as he lost the bronze playoff against Japan's Kei Nishikori.
JUST WATCHED Puerto Rican tennis player makes Olympic history Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Puerto Rican tennis player makes Olympic history 03:17
Earlier, Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina won gold in the women's doubles.
The duo overcame Switzerland's Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky 6-4 6-4.
In the mixed doubles, Venus Williams was denied a record fifth gold medal after losing out in Sunday's final.
Williams and partner Rajeev Ram were beaten in three sets by fellow Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock.
But the silver means the 36-year-old matched the most medals won by a tennis Olympian, equaling the five held by Britain's Kathleen McKane Godfree from the 1920 and '24 Games.

Andy Murray retains Olympic tennis title at Rio 2016


Andy Murray made it a golden summer Sunday after adding the Rio 2016 Olympic men's tennis gold medal to his Wimbledon triumph.


Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.


WTA star CoCo Vandeweghe takes Pat Cash for a spin around Indian Wells, host venue of tennis' so-called "fifth slam."


CNN's Christina Macfarlane caught up Stanislas Wawrinka soon after he won the French Open.


The biggest names in the game have turned to legend coaches in 2014 to advance their games. Christina Macfarlane reports.


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A French court overturned a ban of burkinis yesterday in the French resort town of Villeneuve-Loubet.
The court deemed the ban an “illegal infringement on basic freedoms such as freedom to come and go, freedom of conscience and personal freedom.”
Two local Muslim women praised the ruling.
“It (France) is a free country,” said Gwen Ahmed, a treasurer at Kansas City’s Al-Inshirah’s Islamic Center.
Another member of the mosque, Aisha Sharif, called the initial burkini ban hypocritical that targeted religious coverings worn by Muslim women.
“What if someone finds the idea of women wearing thongs on a beach offensive to their faith?” Sharif said.
Though the court ruled solely on Villeneuve-Loubet’s ban of burkinis, the ruling makes illegal similar bans in some 30 other French towns that have issued similar regulations on the garment.
Villeneuve-Loubet’s mayor, Lionnel Luca, denounced the court’s ruling.
“We need to decide if we want a smiley, friendly version of Sharia law on our beaches or if we want the rules of the (French) Republic to be implemented,” Luca said, according to BBC News.
Sharif said the repeal of the ban is a step in the right direction, but potential future regulations that are similar may target the Muslim faith while ignoring others.
“The burkini ban is kind of giving mainstream Christians and Jews a pass to practice their faith without having any penalty, since there’s nothing overt on their bodies to identify their faith,” Sharif said. “It (the burkini ban) is essentially targeting the display of faith when it doesn’t look like or fit in the mainstream way of dress.”
What is a burkini?
A burkini is a full-body swimsuit that covers most of a woman’s body except her face, hands and feet.
The term conflates burqa and bikini, though a burkini is distinct from a burqa in that burkinis do not cover a woman’s face.
The burkini was invented in Australia to give Australian Muslim women the opportunity to participate more fully in Australian cultural activities.
Legislating religious attire
Marine Le Pen, a leader of the far-right National Front party in France, said the battle to quash burkinis from French beaches is not over.
In a statement, Le Pen called the court’s ruling regrettable and pushed lawmakers to extend a 2004 ban “as quickly as possible” of Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols from classrooms.
“The burkini would obviously be part of it,” said Le Pen, who is a candidate in the 2017 French presidential race.
But Ahmed advocated for women’s freedom to choose what to wear.
At the Al-Inshirah Islamic Center, for example, women are not required to wear headscarves outside the mosque, Ahmed said.
“But there are some people you will not see without a scarf,” Ahmed said. “That’s them, and I choose to maybe not wear it all the time. That’s my choice.”
Ahmed added different Muslim women wear headscarves and other religious clothing for varying reasons, but regardless of attire, acceptance of others’ faith is crucial.
“We need to be able to accept everyone’s religion,” Ahmed said.

Muslim women in KC praise France court’s striking down burkini ban


A top court ruled Friday that a French town’s burkini ban violated basic freedoms. Two women at KC’s Al-Inshirah Islamic Center praised the ruling.


KARACHI: First-ever in the history of Pakistan, an exclusive Leadership Conference 2016 for female youth is going to be organized on Saturday at Expo Center of Karachi.
National hero and renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan would be the chief guest of the day-long conference which will be commenced at 11:00 am.
The conference is aimed at promoting leadership skills among Pakistani girls. It would also provide an opportunity for participants to get engage in networking to have inspirations.
Several prominent personalities including Samiha Raheel Qazi, Qasim Ali Shah, Engr. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Dr. Kousar Firdous, Zubair Mansoori, Sara Chaudhry and others will participate in the event.
Administration completed all arrangements of the event which will be participated by hundreds of female students.

Leadership Conference 2016 for Female Youth to be held today


KARACHI: First-ever in the history of Pakistan, an exclusive Leadership Conference 2016 for female youth is going to be organized…


Providing assistance at Interstate 82 crash scene


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BERLIN -- Scientists have found evidence to support what many dog owners have long believed: man's best friend really does understand some of what we're saying.
Researchers in Hungary scanned the brains of dogs as they were listening to their trainer speaking to determine which parts of the brain they were using.
They found that dogs processed words with the left hemisphere, while intonation was processed with the right hemisphere -- just like humans.
What's more, the dogs only registered that they were being praised if the words and intonation were positive; meaningless words spoken in an encouraging voice, or meaningful words in a neutral tone, didn't have the same effect.
"Dog brains care about both what we say and how we say it," said lead researcher Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest. "Praise can work as a reward only if both word meaning and intonation match."
Andics said the findings suggest that the mental ability to process language evolved earlier than previously believed and that what sets humans apart from other species is the invention of words.
"The neural capacities to process words that were thought by many to be uniquely human are actually shared with other species," he said. "This suggests that the big change that made humans able to start using words was not a big change in neural capacity."
While other species probably also have the mental ability to understand language like dogs do, their lack of interest in human speech makes it difficult to test, said Andics.
Dogs, on the other hand, have socialized with humans for thousands of years, meaning they are more attentive to what people say to them and how.
The study was published in the journal Science.
Andics also noted that all of the dogs were awake, unrestrained and happy during the tests. "They participated voluntarily," he said.

Dogs really do know what you’re saying, study suggests


Scientists have found evidence to
support what many dog owners have long
believed: man's best friend really does
understand some of what we're saying.


AMATRICE, Italy -- Strong aftershocks damaged two key access roads into quake-struck Amatrice on Friday, threatening to isolate the tiny hilltop town as hopes dimmed that firefighters would find any more survivors from the earthquake that killed at least 267 people.
Some crumbled buildings in Amatrice cracked even further after the biggest aftershock of Friday morning struck at 6:28 a.m. The U.S. Geological Service said it had a magnitude of 4.7, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4.8.
The shaking ground also damaged one key access bridge to Amatrice, forcing emergency crews to close it. Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said he was working with authorities to find an alternative bypass also to another damaged bridge. "We hope to God it works because otherwise with the damaged stretch of road, we are without any connection" to the main roads.
Even before the roads were shut down, traffic into and out of Amatrice was horribly congested with emergency vehicles bringing hundreds of rescue crews up to Amatrice and dump trucks carrying tons of concrete, rocks and metal down the single-lane roads.
The aftershock was preceded by more than 50 overnight and was followed by another nine in the next hour -- part of the nearly 1,000 aftershocks that have rocked Italy's central Apennine Mountains since the original 6.2 magnitude quake early Wednesday.
Premier Matteo Renzi has declared a state of emergency and authorized 50 million euros for immediate quake relief.
The Italian government also declared Saturday a day of national mourning and scheduled a state funeral to be attended by President Sergio Mattarella.
Rescue efforts continued through the night and into Friday, but more than a day and a half had passed since the last person was extracted alive from the rubble. While Renzi hailed the fact that 215 people had been rescued after the quake, authorities reported a steadily rising death toll that had hit 267 by Friday morning.
Civil protection operations chief Immacolata Postiglione still insisted Friday that the rescue effort hadn't yet switched to a recovery mission. Rescue workers have noted that a person was pulled out alive 72 hours (three days) after the 2009 earthquake in the Italian town of L'Aquila.
"I confirm, once again as we have from the start, that the units that are doing the searches and rescues, including with dogs looking for other people trapped in the rubble, are absolutely fully active," she said Friday.
On the ground, authorities were still struggling to account for all the missing, since that number is still uncertain given the large number of visitors for summer holidays and an annual food festival.
"There is still hope to find survivors under the rubble, even in these hours," Walter Milan, a mountain rescue worker, said Friday. But he conceded: "Certainly, it will be very unlikely."
The vast majority of the dead were found in levelled Amatrice, the medieval hilltop town famous for its bacon and tomato pasta sauce.
The other dead hailed from nearby Accumoli and Arcquarta del Tronto.
Flags will fly at half-staff Saturday on all public offices and a state funeral will be celebrated by a bishop in a gym in Ascoli Piceno for the victims of nearby Arquata del Tronto -- to date, 49 of the dead have come from the tiny town and its hamlet Pescara del Tronto.
The first private funerals were scheduled for Friday, including one in Pomezia south of Rome celebrated by one of Pope Francis' closest collaborators, Bishop Marcello Semeraro.
Across the area, thousands have been forced to abandon their homes, either because they were destroyed or they were determined to be too unsafe. Overnight some 2,100 slept in tent camps, nearly 1,000 more than the first night after Wednesday's quake, in a sign that a significant number had found nowhere else to go.
"I have no idea what I'm going to do now, because I had renovated the house two years ago," survivor Umberto Palaferri said, showing a photo of his collapsed home on his phone. "It was all new and now I don't know what to do. I'm 76 and don't know if I can rebuild it."

Access to Italy town limited after earthquake damages roads


Strong aftershocks damaged two key access roads into quake-struck Amatrice on Friday, threatening to isolate the tiny hilltop town as hopes dimmed that firefighters would find any more survivors from the earthquake that killed at least 267 people.


A vain jailbird on the lam asked an Australian TV station to use a more flattering photo of her.
Amy Sharp triggered a social media brouhaha with her hilarious request.
The teenager broke out of a Sydney correctional facility on Aug. 19. Cops released a bulletin along with two photos of the wayward 18-year-old.
But when the alert and photos were uploaded to the city's Channel 7 Facebook page, Sharp took exception to the rather plain pix where she donned a glum expression, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
And on the Facebook page, the first person to comment was, ta da, Amy Sharp who added a new photo with her post.
She wrote: "Can you use this photo please, and thank you. Yours truly Amy Sharp XX"
Her post was liked an astonishing 47,000 times and was accompanied by a smiling emoji sporting a halo.
Bec Sackville posted on the page: "Haha that's a classic. Think the cops have found a new way to catch crims. Just put out an ugly photo and the crim will be in touch to give you a better one lol."
Sharp was jailed for property offences and was not a danger to the public. She has been recaptured.

Teen fugitive disapproves of mug shot, gives TV station new pic


A vain jailbird on the lam asked an Australian TV station to use a more flattering photo of her.


OTTAWA -- Two top government bureaucrats will repay part of their tabs for food and other incidentals while in Paris, a result of a Sun investigation into the $1 million spent by the Justin Trudeau government to send 155 delegates to the climate change conference known as COP21.
The Sun investigation has also forced bureaucrats to revise figures in documents previously released under federal access-to-information laws and those tabled in the House of Commons. Providing inaccurate information to Parliament is a big deal and the opposition is likely to give Environment Minister Catherine McKenna a tough time when the House of Commons returns Sept. 19.
"It's looking more and more like government officials are trying to whitewash the expenses for this Paris trip," said Conservative environment critic MP Ed Fast.
Caitlin Workman, a spokesperson for McKenna, said Parliament was told the listed costs were preliminary and not final.
In any event, the revisions mean two bureaucrats will be cutting cheques.
Max Guenette, who was a director general for communications with Environment Canada during the conference and is now an assistant commissioner for Canada Revenue Agency, filed a claim for meals and incidentals of $4,599.40 for the 16 days he was in Paris.
After the Sun published those numbers, the department took a second look at his claim and now Guenette will repay $1,340.88.
Additionally, David Grimes, the assistant deputy minister in charge of Canada's weather service, will repay $951.41. He had claimed $3,266.55 for meals and incidentals during his 14-day stay.
Bureaucrats at the conference were entitled to claim about $230 a day for food and $50 a day for "incidentals" and they needed no receipts to do so.
The preliminary figures provided to Parliament -- which are now being revised after the Sun's investigation -- showed that 27 Environment Canada employees were paid nearly $80,000 for meals and incidentals at the two-week conference.
The meal, transportation and hotel tab for that entire delegation was nearly $1 million but that figure will likely change too.

Sun gets results: Bureaucrats to pay back part of Paris meal tab


Two top government bureaucrats will repay part of their tabs for food and other incidentals while in Paris, a result of a Sun investigation into the $1 million spent by the Justin Trudeau government to send 155 delegates to the climate change conference known as COP21.


Kylie Jenner’s bigger bust is down to hormones, not surgery.
The 19-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star has set the record straight after photos emerged showing her with a seemingly inflated chest. Wearing a skimpy white top with high waisted jeans, Kylie’s ample cleavage spills over the top of her shirt in the Instagram shots, with many people speculating she’d gone under the knife. However, Kylie put an end to rumours on Friday as she answered fans’ boob-related questions.
“Um never,” she told a fan on Twitter who asked if she had surgery on her cleavage, adding to another: “TMI (too much information) but it's that time of the month lol (laugh out loud).”
She also got flirty with one fan, inviting @kyliejenlove to feel her chest to validate it's all real, before admitting her breasts are likely to return to their normal size after she’d finished her period.
“They will deflate soon. And it will be a sad sad day,” she joked.
Do u want to feel them to validate https://t.co/hf10kqit0x — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) August 26, 2016
And fans who want to emulate her look are out of luck, as Kylie revealed her favourite Victoria’s Secret bra is no longer available.
Bomb shell or this one BOMB bra from Victoria secret that I've had for 4/5 years that they don't make anymore https://t.co/rLh0nsCYk6 — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) August 26, 2016
He chest wasn’t the only thing on Kylie's mind though; the TV star also shared her excitement over her new lip kits.
"Okay enough boob talk lmao (laugh my a** off)," she posted. "Can't wait for my new lip kits tomorrow !!!!!!!”
As well as her famous family, Kylie has also become known for her huge pout, which she initially put down to clever make-up before finally admitting she had them surgically enhanced. Making the most out of her fuller lips, Kylie launched her first lip kit in 2015, which was an instant hit.
Okay enough boob talk lmao. — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) August 26, 2016
Can't wait for my new lip kits tomorrow !!!!!!! — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) August 26, 2016

Kylie Jenner denies breast implants, invites fan to 'feel them to validate'


Kylie Jenner’s bigger bust is down to hormones, not surgery.


Aaron Driver is dead. But the ideology that moved him to conspire against his fellow Canadians lives on.
There is undoubtedly a need for an Islamic reformation, but it is more important to correct misperceptions among potentially radical Muslims about Islam’s intersection with the West.
These animosities are entrenched. They began with the first crusade, but for Westerners they were mostly dormant until the world woke up on the morning of the 9/11 attacks.
Many enlightened commentators on the Qur’an have attempted to moderate readings of the texts that are generally linked to jihadi activity.
However, these milder interpretations have had no effect on the incidence of jihadi terror, because a story that promises action – even violence – is more enticing for disaffected, testosterone-fuelled young men.
The idea the West is seeking to destroy Islam gives the jihadists, in their minds, the moral justification to murder with a clear conscience.
For example, while planning to carry out mass casualties against innocent civilians, Driver announced to Canadians: “You still have Muslim blood on your hands, and for this we are thirsty for your blood.
“There’s a fire burning in the chest of every Muslim, and this fire can be cooled only by the spilling of your blood. Your war on Islam is not the kind of crime we allow ourselves to dismiss, to forgive or to forget, insha’Allah.”
This sort of aberrant viewpoint both accounts for and fuels the jihadi genie.
Greater emphasis, therefore, must be placed on correcting misperceptions about the West’s involvement in Muslim lands.
The conviction there is a Western conspiracy against Islam, that Muslim blood is deliberately shed by the West (when in fact the vast majority of Muslim terrorists kill fellow Muslims), and that Westerners demonize Muslims, all need to be addressed.
A Muslim reformation is certainly overdue, especially in the areas of rights for women and minorities in Muslim lands.
But the even more pressing need is in the arena of Muslim political perceptions, in order to dispel the animosity many Muslims have for the West.
Radical Muslim websites often flash headlines like “Crusade Against Islam”.
Such naïve, unqualified assertions are embraced by gullible hotheads.
Impressionable youths must be presented with a more balanced view of the reasons for the West’s combat missions and interventions in Muslim lands – many of which have in fact spilled “Crusader” blood to help Muslims.
Radical Islamist apologists like Anjem Choudary in London, recently convicted of garnering support for ISIS in the UK, are driven by a visceral, irrational hatred of the West.
Of course, recruiters like Choudary are too cunning to get directly involved in terrorism.
What is most needed is a new narrative to correct the unbalanced one they use to turn the lives of their young followers towards violent jihad.
The resentment toward the West that people like Choudary exploit is reinforced by sacred discourse, but it is more political than religious.
That leaves the field wide open for alienated people of all stripes to become jihadi terrorists.
Former friends often comment that a jihadi was not particularly religious, or wasn’t a practising Muslim.
But when the motive is naïvely political, no religion is necessary.
If the potential terrorist identifies with Muslims and has swallowed enough of the shallow political rhetoric to develop a sense of grievance, making suicide bombs is only a small step away.
Any successful de-radicalization effort must start by dispelling incorrect perceptions about the West.


Aaron Driver is dead. But the ideology that moved him to conspire against his fellow Canadians lives on.


Model Sara Sampaio attends the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2016 in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images/AFP
Model and New Victoria's Secret Angel Sara Sampaio from Portugal walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory on November 10, 2015 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret/AFP
2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at The New York Armory - Runway Featuring: Sara Sampaio Where: New York, New York, United States When: 10 Nov 2015 Credit: Jeff Grossman/WENN.com
Model Sara Sampaio attends the BALMAIN X H&M Collection Launch at 23 Wall Street on October 20, 2015 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for H&M/AFP
Model Sara Sampaio attends the premiere of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 in New York on November 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY
2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at The New York Armory - Backstage Featuring: Sara Sampaio Where: New York, New York, United States When: 10 Nov 2015 Credit: Jeff Grossman/WENN.com
In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 photo, Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio poses for a portrait in New York. Sampaio walked in the Victoria�s Secret fashion show on Tuesday for the third year in a row. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
Model Sara Sampaio poses backstage prior to the Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Model Sara Sampaio is one of the newer Victoria's Secret Angels, and is also well-known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues. Originally from Portugal, the 25-year-old model continues to build up her portfolio.
Portuguese model Sara Sampaio has accused the paparazzi of invading her privacy after snapping her topless while vacationing on a yacht.
The Victoria's Secret Angel has been relaxing in the South of France with her boyfriend Oliver Ripley, and she recently ditched her bikini top to avoid tan lines while sunbathing onboard a private boat.
However, an eagle-eyed photographer recognized the topless beauty and snapped away from a distance, and now the images have surfaced online, much to Sara's disgust.
A thought on privacy and an open letter to the paparazzi and press https://t.co/J5ZAQJqH6G — Sara Sampaio (@SaraSampaio) August 27, 2016
The 25-year-old Sports Illustrated Swimsuit star took to Facebook over the weekend to address the controversy, claiming she was "privately minding her own business" when the pictures were taken.
"I had no idea that there was someone far away with a big telescopic lens taking pictures of me," she explained to fans. "Some of you may say that I'm a public figure and it comes with my job. Others that I'm used to being photographed in swimsuits. There is a difference though."
She then addressed the paparazzi directly, fuming, "How would you feel if you woke up one morning to find pictures of your 25yr (year) old daughter topless all over the Internet?"

Model Sara Sampaio blasts paparazzi for topless photos


Portuguese model Sara Sampaio has accused the paparazzi of invading her privacy after snapping her topless while vacationing on a yacht.


NASHVILLE -- A Nashville judge dismissed pop star Taylor Swift as a potential juror in an aggravated rape and kidnapping case on Monday, Davidson County District Attorney General's Office spokesman Ken Whitehouse said.
"She asked to be left off out of concern for an upcoming trial in Denver where she was -- she used the term 'groped' -- by a fan at a meet-and-greet," Whitehouse said.
Swift told the judge she would be more than willing to serve on a jury in any other type of case, he said.
In the Denver case, Swift filed a counterclaim last year after a former radio host sued her.
David Mueller claimed he lost his job after a member of Swift's security team falsely accused him of grabbing the singer's buttocks backstage during a 2013 photo session. Muller claimed the person who assaulted Swift was actually one of his superiors.
Swift's counterclaim states, "Ms. Swift knows exactly who committed the assault."
Before Swift was dismissed from the jury pool on Monday, she took time to chat and take selfies with other potential jurors.
Bryan Merville, who owns a technology infrastructure company, said he took a photo with Swift for his daughters, who are huge fans. He said he was one of about 140 people waiting in a holding area Monday morning before they were called to separate courtrooms. About 15-20 asked Swift for a photo or autograph.
"She's about as famous as they come, but she couldn't have been nicer," Merville said. "She took the time to talk to every person who asked her for a picture."

Taylor Swift reports to jury duty in Nashville, gets dismissed


A Nashville judge dismissed pop star Taylor Swift as a potential juror in an aggravated rape and kidnapping case on Monday, Davidson County District Attorney General's Office spokesman Ken Whitehouse said.


As Brooke Henderson and two playing partners crested a hill and strolled down the 10th fairway Saturday at Priddis Greens, spectators scrambled for a sight-line.
Two balls were buried in the rough, another sitting pretty on the furthest finger of short grass.
Which one, a middle-aged man asked as he arrived on scene, belonged to Canada’s beloved blonde?
“Well, that’s the best drive,” replied another fan, pointing. “That’s gotta be hers.”
Indeed, it was.
From there, Henderson knocked a downhill wedge-shot onto the dance-floor.
She proceeded to the green.
The stampede of fans followed.
“You know, it's amazing,” Henderson said after Saturday’s third round at the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open not far from Calgary. “A couple times, I kind of had to pinch myself. And they're all here just for me, just to see me play. It's really surreal.”
With a three-day tally of 8-under 208, Henderson is currently nine shots off the pace of leader Ariya Jutanugarn.
The superstar-in-the-making from Smiths Falls, Ont., is likely too far back to contend for the trophy.
The 18-year-old Henderson is, however, running away with the popularity contest this week at Priddis Greens, and that won’t change Sunday.
Jutanugarn, joined by South Korea’s In Gee Chun and Sei Young Kim, will tee off her final round at 10:45 a.m.
The largest gallery will be long gone by then.
That train leaves the station — title sponsor Canadian Pacific will love that lingo — as soon as Brooke blasts her first tee-ball at 9:28 a.m., and you can bet there will be thunderous roars if Henderson starts to roll toward her readjusted goal of a Top-10 finish.
“I felt way better today, and I think feeling the energy from my massive crowds has definitely really helped that,” Henderson said after Saturday’s spin of 4-under 68, with five birdies and one bogey on her scorecard on the third day of the LPGA Tour shootout. “Through bad shots and good shots, they are supporting me and giving me a little bit of extra energy and positive vibes. That's really helped me the last two days.
“Starting out the day, I started with two birdies right away, was 2-under through the first couple holes and felt like I had some momentum. I just didn't really capitalize but I was able to, on No. 16 and No. 17, make two really big putts. That kind of energized me, energized the crowd, and made it a lot more fun.”
The spotlight, of course, can suck away some energy, too.
Henderson, who has repeatedly insisted she’s not too jet-lagged after returning from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, irked on-site reporters Friday when she skipped out on interviews.
She didn’t leave anybody hanging Saturday.
Immediately after sinking a par putt on the finishing hole, she beelined for a handshake with the military man tending the Canadian flag on No. 18.
She didn’t miss anybody on autograph alley, either, scribbling her name and smiling for selfies for at least 25 minutes before finally reaching the clubhouse entrance.
Near the front of the line for a signature was 10-year-old Toryn Bosenko, who followed along Saturday with a sign that read ‘Go Brooke’ on one side and ‘Yeah, I play like a girl. Jealous??’ on the other.
If you’re searching for Brooke on Sunday, don’t be surprised to overhear something like this … ‘That’s the biggest crowd. It’s gotta be hers.’
It will be.
Has been all week.
“Ever since I was 14 and playing in the Canadian Open, I've had really big crowds and I've felt that support from home,” Henderson said. “But last year (in Vancouver), coming off a win in Portland, my first LPGA Tour victory, things were kind of to a new level. People were lining the fairways at 8:00 a.m. to see me, and that's kind of the way it is this year.
“Probably the biggest crowds I've ever played in front of and definitely the most in favour for me. It's definitely a lot of fun to play in front of, and I've been really enjoying it.”
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/WesGilbertson

Talented teen Brooke Henderson winning popularity contest at Priddis Greens


As Brooke Henderson and two playing partners crested a hill and strolled down the 10th fairway Saturday at Priddis Greens, spectators scrambled for a sight-line.


Pop quiz — what’s your family’s largest expense?
Many Canadians might say housing or perhaps food.
But in reality, taxes consume more of the average Canadian family’s household income than anything else.
When we say taxes, we don’t just mean income taxes.
We’re talking about all the taxes you pay to all levels of all governments.
This includes both visible and hidden taxes including income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, health taxes, fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, import taxes, alcohol taxes and much more.
In a recent study by the Fraser Institute, we track the total tax bill of the average Canadian family from 1961 to 2015.
For 2015, we estimate the average Canadian family (including single Canadians) earned $80,593 in income and paid $34,154 in total taxes.
That’s 42.4% of income going to taxes—more than the 37.6 % that goes to food, clothing, and shelter combined.
Indeed, Canadian families spend more on total taxes than on the basic necessities of life.
But it wasn’t always this way.
Back in 1961, the first year we have calculations, the average family paid a much smaller portion of its household income in taxes (33.5%) while spending much more on the basic necessities (56.5%).
In fact, since 1961, the total tax bill increased by 1,939%, dwarfing increases in shelter costs (1,425%), clothing (746%), and food (645%).
Even after accounting for inflation (the change in overall prices), the tax bill shot up 152.9% over the period.
And now, total taxes eat up more income than any other single family expense.
While taxes help fund important government services, the issue is the amount of taxes governments take compared to what we get in return.
With more than 42% of income going to taxes, Canadians might wonder whether they’re getting the best value for their tax dollars.
That’s up to you and your family to decide.
But to make an informed assessment, you must have a complete understanding of all the taxes you pay.
Unfortunately, it’s not so straightforward because the different levels of government levy such a wide range of taxes, with many taxes buried in consumer prices.
Therein lies the value of our calculations.
An informed citizenry can hold government more accountable for the money it spends and continue a public debate about the overall tax burden and whether we’re getting our money’s worth.
-- Lammam and Palacios are co-authors of the Fraser Institute report, The Canadian Consumer Tax Index 2016, available at www.fraserinstitute.org


Pop quiz — what’s your family’s largest expense?


Selena Gomez is taking an indefinite break from her world tour in order to focus on getting well while she continues to fight her lupus battle.
The Come & Get It singer was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 2014 and subsequently checked into a rehab facility to receive treatments and undergo chemotherapy.
Gomez didn't reveal her secret until last October when she released her album Revival, and the 24 year old has been promoting the record since May by performing concerts as part of her Revival Tour.
Although she just wrapped up a leg in Australia earlier this month and is slated to head back onstage in Canada this weekend, the pop star announced on Tuesday she is taking time off from the concert series and other professional commitments to refocus on her health, specifically treating her anxiety, panic attacks and depression, which are all side effects of having the disease.
"As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways," Gomez tells People in a statement. "I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges. I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off.
"Thank you to all my fans for your support. You know how special you are to me, but I need to face this head on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best. I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues."
Kenneth M. Farber, the co-CEO and co-president of the Alliance for Lupus Research, praised the singer for coming forward with her battle, telling the publication, "it is not commonly known that depression, anxiety and panic attacks can be side effects of lupus. We are so proud of Selena for taking care of herself and bringing awareness to this sometimes very misunderstood illness."
When Gomez was initially fighting lupus in 2014, she cancelled a number of tour dates for what her team then cited as "personal issues", and her subsequent rehab stay prompted her representative to deny suggestions she had a substance abuse problem.
A source close to the star insists that same speculation is untrue in this case yet again, telling People magazine her break from the Revival Tour is "absolutely not related to alcohol or substance abuse" and she was prompted to take a hiatus after she "hadn't felt like herself" over the last couple of months.
"She decided to clear her calendar for the year in order to have this be her priority for future happiness and didn't want to leave any promoters at bay," the insider adds. "She feels relieved that she can now make more sense of why she was feeling the way she was and is optimistic about the future."
It is unclear how long Gomez will be out of the spotlight. She was originally scheduled for three dates in North America in September, a few stops in Europe throughout October and there were even more shows planned in Asia and Latin America until right through the middle of December.

Selena Gomez breaks from tour due to lupus


Selena Gomez is taking an indefinite break from her world tour in order to focus on getting well while she continues to fight her lupus battle.


BRUSSELS — Apple will have to pay up to 13 billion euros ($18.9 billion) plus interest in back taxes to Ireland after the European Union found Tuesday that the U.S. technology giant received illegal tax benefits over 11 years.
The ruling is the biggest salvo in the EU executive Commission’s battle to have multinationals pay their fair share in the region. The EU alleges that many big companies struck deals with EU countries to pay unusually low tax in exchange for basing their EU operations there.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that a three-year investigation found Ireland granted such lavish tax breaks to Apple that the multinational’s effective corporate tax rate on its European profits dropped from 1% in 2003 to a mere 0.005% in 2014.
That last tax rate meant that for each million euros in profits, Apple paid just 50 euros in taxes, Vestager told a news conference.
“Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies—this is illegal under EU state aid rules,” Vestager said.
“Ireland must now recover the unpaid taxes in Ireland from Apple for the years 2003 to 2014 of up to 13 billion euros ($18.9 billion), plus interest,” the Commission said in a statement.
Apple said in a statement that it had followed the law and paid every cent of the taxes it owed. It said it would challenge the EU action in the European courts, and predicted it would be vindicated.
The Irish government denied granting favourable fiscal treatment to the maker of the iPhone and other consumer electronics products, computer software and online services. “Ireland’s position remains that the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided,” the Irish statement said. “Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers.”
Apple accused the EU executive body of engaging in efforts “to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe, ignore Ireland’s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process.”
“The Commission’s case is not about how much Apple pays in taxes, it’s about which government collects the money,” the company said in a statement. “It will have a profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe. Apple follows the law and pays all of the taxes we owe wherever we operate. We will appeal and we are confident the decision will be overturned.”
The Irish finance minister, Michael Noonan, said he would seek approval from the Irish Cabinet to legally challenge the EU Commission’s ruling.
“It is important that we send a strong message that Ireland remains an attractive and stable location of choice for long-term substantive investment,” Noonan said. “Apple has been in Ireland since the 1980s and employs thousands of people in Cork.”
A statement from the U.S. government was expected later Tuesday.
In a white paper made public last week, the U.S. Treasury Department accused the European Union of using a different set of criteria to judge cases involving American companies, calling the potential penalties “deeply troubling.”

Apple owes up to $18.9 billion in back taxes in Europe: EU


Apple will have to pay up to 13 billion euros ($18.9 billion) plus interest in back taxes to Ireland after the European Union found Tuesday that the U.S. technology giant received illegal tax benefits over 11 years.


Dear Amy: I have been dating my boyfriend "William" for 2.5 years. We are both divorced with children. William's ex-wife had a horrible two-year affair that hurt him deeply. Knowing this, I have always tried to assure him that he is the only man in my life and I make sure to go above and beyond to reassure him that I am thinking about him whenever we are apart.
However, in the past six months, William has become extremely jealous of my very dear gay friend of many years "Kevin" (who also happens to be an important client of mine).
It started out with snide comments and then recently escalated to him accusing me of having an "inappropriate intimate relationship" with Kevin. He says Kevin is a bad influence, he is inappropriate and most recently, he feels like I am having an emotional affair.
I have made it very clear that we are just friends -- exactly like all of my female friends -- but William refuses to accept this.
William has gone so far as to create secret social media accounts to monitor my daily activity. He also monitors Kevin's. It became somewhat of an obsession. He has been checking several times a day and screen captures anything he deems inappropriate with ANY of my friends, but is focused specifically on Kevin.
This volatile situation had been building over the past six months. We have been arguing a lot without my full understanding as to what was going on behind the scenes. I have been unjustly accused of many completely fabricated scenarios.
Apparently I spent too long in the ladies room at a restaurant several months ago, and now I'm being accused of conspiring with Kevin to get together without William knowing.
One Friday night I fell asleep and didn't text William to say goodnight. This caused a week-long argument. William would not take my calls, cancelled our plans for the weekend and refused to believe that I didn't sneak away to New York to see my friend.
I also have a female friend who William has decided is "undermining" our relationship and frowns on me seeing her as well.
This man is wonderful in so many ways, but I can't seem to fix my relationship and keep my friends in the process! -- Heartsick in PA
Dear Heartsick: I'm not a therapist. But I can see a pattern building. Even if you are not telling me an objective version of this story, it seems like a bad situation for you.
Anyone who sets up secret accounts to monitor you -- and also friends of yours -- is not someone who respects your right to have relationships and friendships with other people. I don't believe you should try to "fix" this relationship.
And I hope you don't expose your children to this craziness.
Dear Amy: One of my bachelor friends has run into a problem that has me stumped. He is into online dating and seems to run into the same situation with many of his dates.
They meet up for drinks or dinner, and he is happy and prepared to foot the bill. Though by date six or seven, after dinners, plays, movies, etc., none of these women have ever offered to split the check or pay for one thing.
I personally find that appalling, but we can't think of a tactful way to handle this.
Suggestions? -- Stumped
Dear Stumped: One way around this is to plan low-cost outings, such as walks, hikes, or museum visits. Your friend might be initiating all of these dates, which would make the woman more likely to assume he is treating.
But this is also the ideal situation to test a couple's ability to communicate. By the sixth or seventh date, your friend should be brave enough to say, "I notice you seem to expect me to always pick up the check. Are you willing to share the costs when we do something together?
Dear Amy: "Protective" was wondering how to exclude her aunt's racist boyfriend from this year's Thanksgiving dinner.
I liked your recommendation, but perhaps something more blunt is called for: "Your boyfriend is a jerk. We're all tired of him and don't want to share our holiday with him. He needs to stay home." -- Blunt
Dear Blunt: Excluding this family member's romantic partner will likely lead to the aunt's exclusion, too. If family members are willing to deal with this drama, then yes -- they could definitely choose the more blunt statement.

Boyfriend's social surveillance spells trouble


Dear Amy: I have been dating my boyfriend


FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says quarterback Tony Romo has a broken bone in his back, and there is no timetable for his return.
Garrett made the comments on Saturday during a conference call. He said an MRI revealed the break, but the coach did not provide further details.
CBS had reported the MRI showed Romo had fractured his vertebrae and would likely be sidelined for six to 10 weeks. But during the call Garrett said there’s no timetable but that the quarterback would play this season.
During Thursday night's 27-17 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Romo was tackled from behind by Cliff Avril on the third play from scrimmage as Romo scrambled from the pocket.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, left, is tackled by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
He immediately grabbed at his back, crumpled on the field while trainers sprinted from the Dallas sideline and images of Romo’s injury problems from last year immediately flashed to mind. But he had managed to walk off the field without assistance.
Romo, 36, has had back surgery twice before. His latest injury occurred on the third play of Thursday night’s exhibition game at Seattle. He was hit by Cliff Avrill and was rolling in pain before taken off the field and replaced by rookie Dak Prescott. Later, Romo said he was OK.
The Cowboys open the season Sept. 11 at home against the New York Giants.
- With Files from Postmedia Network

Cowboys' Tony Romo broke bone in back during preseason game: Coach


Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says quarterback Tony Romo has a broken bone in his back, and there is no timetable for his return.


SASKATOON -- A 26-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was attacked in northern Saskatchewan by a lone wolf.
The man, a shift worker at Cameco's Cigar Lake uranium mine, was walking between buildings shortly after midnight on Monday when the attack occurred, said Cameco spokesman Rob Gereghty.
"He is a kitchen worker, on lunch break at that time. He may have been headed back to his room."
That's when the wolf made what Gereghty called an "unprovoked attack."
"A single wolf basically pounced on him. The injured contractor received immediate medical attention from a security guard who interrupted the attack and scared the lone wolf away."
The worker was flown to Saskatoon where Gereghty said he is recovering and in good spirits.
The wolf remains at large and wildlife officers are on the site. All workers have been told to use vehicles to move from building to building.
Gereghty said the company takes pains to keep a clean site. All food is either buried, or burned and buried. Two fences ring the landfill.
Nevertheless, wildlife is a reality at the remote mine, about 675 kilometres north of Saskatoon.
"Bears, wolves, they are prevalent," Gereghty said. "We do our best to work in harmony with wildlife and the environment, but occasionally interactions do take place."

'A single wolf basically pounced on him'; Sask. mine worker in hospital after 'u


A 26-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was attacked in northern Saskatchewan by a lone wolf.


NEW ORLEANS — Actor, writer and director John Schneider, best known as Bo Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard, thought the first flood he experienced at his Louisiana production studio was bad.
Now, he knows there are different levels of what’s considered “bad.”
Schneider’s Livingston Parish-based studio — which includes his home, offices, cars, wardrobe, sound stages, and more — flooded in mid-March but the water didn’t get into his 116-year-old home. This time around, he wasn’t as lucky.
He says overflow from the Tickfaw River this month inundated all of his property in Holden, flooding his home with about 4 feet of water as well as another house in which his mother lives. He says he’s lost a lot of memorabilia and equipment but his situation is not unique. About 90% of the homes in the parish were flooded.
Still he says the response by friends and strangers has been amazing.

'Dukes of Hazard' star's Louisiana home flooded


Actor, writer and director John Schneider, known for his past role on The Dukes of Hazzard and current role on The Haves and the Have Nots, thought the first flood he experienced at his Louisiana production studio was bad.