Suicide Bombing at Funeral of Afghan President's Half- Brother
ANDERSON: Going beyond borders, this is CNN. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Becky Anderson, live from London for you at just after half past nine. Let's get you the world news headlines at this point. Rupert Murdoch is defending News Corp saying it has handled the phone- hacking crisis "extremely well in every way possible." Now, this is a quote from the "Wall Street Journal," and it is his first significant public comment since the scandal broke. The media baron has also done a U-turn and now says he will testify before the British parliament next week. Meanwhile, a federal law enforcement source in the US tells CNN the FBI is investigating potential News Corp phone hacking in America. The source says it's looking into allegations that News Corp or associates targeted victims of the September 11th attacks. Well, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has sent an audio message to his supporters saying, and I quote, "It is impossible for me to leave my loyal people. I will remain with my people and with my firearm until the last drop of blood. We will win over this unjust campaign," end quote. A suicide bomber in Afghanistan killed at least six people in a mosque in Kandahar. Several high-ranking Afghan officials were amongst those gathered to mourn the death of President Hamid Karzai's half-brother. Funeral services were held today for former US first lady Betty Ford. She's being buried at her husband's presidential museum in Grand Rapids in Michigan. Now, Betty Ford's public battles with breast cancer, with alcoholism, and addictions to pain pills broke social taboos back in the 1970s. Well, the first round of the British Golf Open got underway in Sandwich in England on Thursday, and the tournament favorite is definitely popular with British fans looking for a local hero to cheer for. Newly-crowned US Open champion Rory McIlroy is from Northern Ireland, of course, and quite the welcome as he strolled out onto Royal St. Georges to tee off. But he didn't have the best of starts, bogeying two of his first three holes. CNN's Shane O'Donoghue is at the course for you.</s>SHANE O'DONOGHUE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It was supposed to be another day at the top for a young golfer making a mark on the game. And it was. Except that today wasn't all about Rory McIlroy. The real star was an amateur 20 years of age from Welwyn Garden City just north of London called Tom Lewis. Now, he won the British boys' championship here two years ago, so he had some form over the course. But nobody could really have expected him to go around in 65, that's five under par, and it means that he's now tied on top of the leader board alongside Denmark's Thomas Bjorn. He's the man who blew a three-shot lead here in 2003 with just three holes to go, so there is some scar tissue for Bjorn, but what a comeback in this first round at the Open. For McIlroy, though, all eyes were on him, but he really struggled in the early stages of his first round, but got it together and managed to get home in just one over par in more testing conditions during the morning play. So, that's one over for McIlroy on 71, but 65 is the magic number for Lewis and Bjorn, on top of the leader board here at Royal St. Georges. Back to you.</s>ANDERSON: For more on the British Golf Open, I'm joined by "World Sport's" Mark McKay. We don't call it the British Golf Open, we just call it the Open, of course. Mark, it's an amateur, Tom Lewis, of course, who's making headlines today. Remarkable stuff, huh?</s>MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: No doubt about it, Becky. Tom Lewis played alongside five-time champion Tom Watson. What does that mean? Well, it's significant as the young 20-year-old was named after the golfing legend, and so many times during Thursday's opening round, Becky, the youngster outshone the grisly vet, 65 as Shane mentioned, tied for the lead the amateur is with Thomas Bjorn. It's the lowest individual score by an amateur at the Open championship, so he has a bit of history in the big, young Tom Lewis does. He's also the first amateur golfer in 40 years, Becky, 43 years to own at least a share of the lead at this golfing major. He has great memories. As Shane mentioned, he won the British boys' championship, the amateur championship, in 2009. Now, Becky, we'll see how he handles the pressure going into round two and eventually into the weekend.</s>ANDERSON: I seem to remember a boy called Justin Rose doing fairly well at the Open some years ago, and it all fell apart. But let's hope he does well. What's happened to McIlroy? Has he got the yips, as we call it in golf?</s>MCKAY: Maybe right at the beginning of his round. As Shane mentioned, the conditions during the morning session were pretty rough, and that probably contributed to Rory coming out of the gates and bogeying two of his first three holes on Thursday, Becky. One over 71, he's six shots back of the co-leaders. He does come here with big expectations, high expectations. Winning the US Open by eight shots will certainly do that. He has progressed in each major that he's been in, and after today's round, Becky, McIlroy told reporters that, if he goes out and shoots a 69 tomorrow, he'll feel very good about his position going into the weekend. So, we'll see how Rory handles the expectations that not only follow him through this weekend at Royal St. Georges, Becky, but every major he plays from here on out.</s>ANDERSON: Yes, I know, absolutely. You know, I've chopped my way around that course. I actually played it in 96, which is probably as good as I will ever play. I think it was a unique day, because the course is so difficult. But these guys, they'll just chop it up, as we know. All right, what are the other headlines out of the world of sport, Mark?</s>MCKAY: They do make it look easy, don't they, Becky? Yes. Elsewhere around the world, over in France, another day in the middle of July means another grueling stage of the Tour de France. Thursday was particularly challenging. French cyclist Thomas Voeckler proudly wore the yellow jersey on Bastille day for the first mountain stage of the Tour. Voeckler involved in a mishap after the day's first climb, causing one of the pre-race favorites, Andreas Kloden, to suffer a heavy crash. Kloden would continue, and so would Voeckler, who did retain the yellow jersey. But it was the Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez who crossed the finish line first. Significantly, the defending champ, Alberto Contador, lost further ground, and his main rivals, the Schleck brothers, Frank and Andy from Luxembourg, and Australia's Cadel Evans. In the United States, the perjury trial of former major league baseball star Roger Clemens ended in a mistrial Thursday after jurors heard statements in a prosecution video that the judge had ruled inadmissible until later in the case. Clemens, a one time dominating pitcher is accused of perjury, obstruction of justice -- of Congress, and making false statements about his alleged use of steroids and human growth hormone. He faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and $1.5 million fine on the counts against him. Clemens, one of the most feared pitchers in all time during his days, during a career that lasted more than two decades. A September 2nd hearing is set to decide whether to retry this case. I'll have much more on golf's Open championship, plus a live interview with super lightweight champ Amir Khan ahead of his next bout. That's, Becky, at the bottom of the next hour on "World Sport" right after "BackStory."</s>ANDERSON: Excellent stuff, I'll be watching. Mark, thank you very much. Mr. Mark McKay with your sports news this Thursday. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, of course, here on CNN. Coming up, tensions are high, but the stakes are higher. We take a look at why Washington is at fever pitch with a crucial deadline around the corner. That in 90 seconds. Stay with us.