> >> announcer: this is al jazeera. hello, welcome to the newshour. these are the top stories - israeli forces stepped up their artillery attacks on gaza. two israeli soldiers have died. >> homeless, terrified and with nowhere to go, we spoke to gaza residents dispossessed by a ground invasion. >> i'm in london with the latest from the plane crash in ukraine.

international monitors are back at the site of the wreckage. ukraine says much of the evidence may have already been destroyed. >> sunni rebels giving ultimatums to christians to leave iraq's second-largest city. we begin with the ground offensive in gaza, where the israeli army substance up the attacks. two israeli soldiers have been killed by palestinian fighters trying to get into israel. let's go to john hendren, our correspondent in jerusalem. what more do we know, john? >> it sounds like a group of palestinian fighters were infiltrating from central gaza.

they got across to the israeli side of the border and came into a confrontation with israeli forces. two israeli troops were killed in that, one a sergeant and another a major. both were killed. there were four injured in the incident. four israelis. one of the palestinian fighters was killed. the others escaped, presumably through the same tunnel that they came into. this is the first israeli fighters killed in a confrontation with palestinians. yesterday there was an incident in which one israeli was killed, and previously we were told there was an israeli killed in an operation involving the tunnel. these are the first killed in a confrontation with palestinian fighters. >> what likely impact is this going have on the israeli

strategy? well, binyamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister said yesterday that things would get tougher. the military chef of staff emphasised -- chief of staff emphasised the same point, referring to civilian casualties not just just on the palestinian side, but the israeli side. they tried to prepare the public. they know when you go into a ground operation, those casualties go up not just on the palestinian side - and we have seen the numbers there - but we may see more israeli casualties. that's something we've been anticipating and trying to set the public mood for, to get them ready for. nevertheless, they'll go forward with the operation, escalating the operation. and this should not alter the overall strategy on that. it means that israelis are

paying attention. this is a draft military. everyone has a relative who is in the army, and this is the first time they'll confront the deaths of israeli soldiers in the next couple of days. >> john hendren in jerusalem. now it the palestinians side of this. it's been two days since israeli troops went in to the gaza troops. over that time 36 palestinians have been killed. the overall number of deaths by air and sea is higher. 339 are dead, according to the palestinian health ministry. 77 of them are children. 2,500 others have been injured. and the u.n.'s relief agency in gaza says around 50,000 people have fled their homes, up from 20,000 a day earlier. we can go live to nicole

johnston in gaza. it seems people are leaving their homes in greater numbers. >> that's right. the united nations is saying that it is trying to shelter more than 50,000 people. this afternoon i was in the bay la hi area and drove through a couple of other areas close to downtown gaza city, but they were virtually ghost towns. the streets were empty, houses were empty. we met a few people staying there, saying they'd remain behind because they felt nowhere was safe. even if they went to central gaza, it would not make a difference. right now there's heavy shelling in the area in the east, it's come under heavy fire in the last few days, and the northern part of the gaza strip. my colleague stefanie dekker has been in some of those areas and filed this report. >> reporter: death comes from

the air here. what you hear is the sound of a drone. this is one of the border towns, and no one feels safe. >> translation: every house has hundreds of people that have fled their homes. i hope what happens to us happens to all arab countries so they feel what we have to suffer. >> the ground incursion terrified everyone. when we arrived people were running away. there's panic. we are told there's a few dead people up the road, and there's israeli attacks, and it is advantaging. everyone is running back from here. what is happening is that people are dying. we see a young girl brought to the morgue, joining her mother and father in death. the result of an israeli tank shell.

part of the mother's head is missing. war has no mercy. for those left living, there's no peace. this man was pulled from the rubble of his home, he is not well. forced to shelter with families further away from the border. >> i left my house. yep if my house will be there. i can't go there now. i came running with no clothes for me and my kids. i'm in my father's house. if they come home, where will i go. >> the sound of artillery fire thuds through the air. the war is having a psychological impact. the fear of a people trapped and with no way out. and with your intimate knowledge of gaza, tell us more about the stated aim of israel, to

demilitarize gaza, and they are targetting the tunnels. tell us more about that. >> the tunnels are very interesting. we hard about the tunnel situation in central gaza. many people that live in gaza believe that there could be a city of tunnels under gaza city. israel is saying it uncovered a lot of tunnels, maybe a couple of dozen. there's belief that there could be many tunnels all over the gaza strip. we know that there were up to 3,000 tunnels at one point across the egyptian border, tunnels used for bringing in goods over the last couple of years. most of those tunnels have been destroyed by the egyptian, 80% of them. some of them operate. there's a great deal of ability inside gaza to make tunnels, whether it be for bringing in coninstruction materials, weapons or for trying to --

construction materials, weapons or hiding fighters under the city. >> nicole johnson, thank you for the latest live from gaza. protests have been taking place around the world in support of gaza, particularly in paris. demonstrators defied a ban, and ended up throwing stones at riot police station, who responded by using tear gas. [ chanting ] >>. >> hundreds of people held a march in bosnia, calling for peace and an end to the siege. well, thousands came out in london in support of the palestinians. we have more. >> reporter: thousands arrived from all over the country outside downing street, the residence of the british prime minister, protesting on the

government's stance for his rail's right to defend itself -- for his rail to defend itself. all of us want to speak up. the collective punishment is terrible. what is happening with the killing of children in an extraordinary way in gaza, it's not humane for acceptability. it's no way to bring peace. >> everyone has the right to freedom, to be in peace, live in peace. palestine should be one of the most peaceful places on earth. it's the center of all religions. >> while the u.k. government maintains its stance. there are dissenting voices emerging. there's a discomfort as to how harshly israel is using its incursion in gaza, and the civilian death toll. the deputy prime minister in the past week said that there was

disproportionate matters and it was a collective punishment in gaza. from the prime minister's government there's dissenting voices as to how israel is using its voice, it is something that is strongly felt. more on the gaza conflict later in the newsho newshour - including how both are producing video to fict a propaganda war. also, the issue babies taken from their mothers at birth and used to test drugs. and no one keeping pace with rory mcilroy at the pca championship. all right. now to our other main story, ukraine - and the latest on the floating the flight mh17.

international monitors are back at the wreckage site. >> russia and pro-russian separatists have been accused of destroying evidence. 298 people died when the airliner was shot down by a suspected missile fired from a rebel-held area. scott heidler reports from the screen in grabova. >> reporter: wild flowers mark the spot. some were placed by this woman - her son's house metres away from the debris of the 777. >> translation: it's sad for all the people. the pilot, the children. it's awful to see something like this happening in our country. >> after laying uncovered in the

fields since the plane fell, emergency workers put the bodies in bags and lay them on the roadside. >> the fighters came down the hill to our location, and for the first time in 48 hours since the crash happened we have been told to get out the area because investigators are coming in. >> soon after we were moved back, the european monitoring mission arrived. after confusion and standoff the monitors were let into the area. more negotiation was needed. >> i'm saying no the o.s.c.e. >> incidents are large, it is beyond what we have seen. we'll consult with those in charge to see if we can access other sites. >> as the dutch foreign minister arrived the ukranian government

continued a push for international access. >> translation: the pro-russia rebels are not allowing investigators to collect and transfer the evidence. rescue groups are working under the threat of armed rebels. >> a small step forward for the european monitors, but with restricted access, an international investigation is not expected in the coming hours. at the end of the day volunteer coalminers help to bring in bodies from the field. they are loaded on to trucks. there's a question over where they'll go and how they'll be identified, so they can make their way to their final resting place. let's go live to nisreen el-shamayleh, in the eastern city of donetsk. you have been at a press conference held by the international monitors. what do they have to say in. >> they had better news, they

had better access to the site. they were forced to gone on foot. and it's huge. it was scattered over 10km, and it was difficult. they only had access for three hours. several crucial points came out. the observers noticed some of the debris has been moved. they understand, looking at some of the burnt-out debris and looking underneath it, they realise there was no burnt-out ground, making them realise that it had been moved and dampered with. the other observation was bodies were put into body bags and put on the side of the road. they were unclear where they were being taken. they have been pressing authorities on the black boxes. the o.s.c.e. will continue to press. the key thing is they have not

been able to get the investigators the safe security corridor they need to get to their site. >> there's concern about the bodies that have laid for 48 hours. do we know where they've been taken. we have the evidence of bodies put into bags and tape somewhere. >> it is understandable after days in the sun and cold at night that the bodies would be moved. the problem is that investigators haven't been to the site to photograph the bodies to ascertain evidence from the bodies. at the morgue we saw body bags taken out of a morgue and placed in a refrigerated lorry. we tried to ask the authorities at the morgue where they would

be taken, and they were unable to tell us. they wouldn't let us access or give access to us, to the morgues, and there were armed rebels protecting the morgues as well. all of this casts suspicion and doubt on what the authorities here are actually doing. what the separatist rebels are doing, and whether they are trying to tamper with evidence or trying to hide evidence. >> important to remember that effectively that area of ukraine is still a war zone, isn't it. i know there's been more reports of fighting. we saw it ourselves. there was shelling close to donetsk airport. just about 12km from where we are now, a house was shelled. it was on fire. there were separatist fighters claiming that the ukranian army has been shelling. so the fighting is ongoing. not only here in donetsk, but

around the site of the crash as well. this is going to make things very, very difficult for the investigative teams who are currently in kiev, nowhere near getting to the site. it's been difficult for them to get down here and do the work, especially as they understand debris has been tampered with and bodies are being moved. >> that update from donetsk in eastern ukraine. >> ukraine security council says 15 pieces of military equipment are brought over to russia into luhansk. kiev says three missile launches were smuggled in on monday, and it has compelling evidence that a russian crew fired the missile that shot down the plane. >> they possessed three, because three of them crossed the

ukranian border, directed to russian federation. rebels can't operate sophisticated and high tech neek missile launch buk. you need military education and be well trained. we know for sure that the team was russian, they were russian citizens operating buk 1 and came from the territory of russian federation, together with the missile launcher. the dutch prime minister warned the russian prime minister vladimir putin, that he has one last chance to show he's serious about helping rescuers move bodies from the website. there's anger that some bodies are dragged around the site. the dutch prime minister said the victims must be treated with report. >> we are already in shot, but the news we had of bodies being dragged around the site, not

being treated properly created a shot in the netherlands. people are angry, furious. my plea to you, mr presidents, is help us bring our people back. >> russia has called on kiev and moscow separatists to give international experts access to the site. prer usual is grow -- pressure is growing on russia to give more help. >> despite the accusations levelled against moscow. russia says there's an international unfettered investigation into the crash of mh17, it is undertaken, only then can the truth be reached. it's too soon to point fingers of blame. russia is in a difficult position. it's being accused of being an accessory in the downing of

mh17, and is being accused of fanning the flames of rebellion, training, equipping, supplying the rebels. whether or not it's true, russia has an interest in keeping the government in kiev off balance, and keep the western influence as minimal as possible and ukraine out of n.a.t.o. russia is in a difficult position because there has been a huge kata clis im. what it is likely to do is persuade european countries that have been sitting on the fence, giving russia the benefit of the doubt, it will persuade many of the countries to swing behind the idea of tougher sanctions against moscow. what does russia do. do they back the rebels or turn

again them, risking geopolitical goals in ukraine. if it doesn't it runs the risk of harsher sanctions. the only way it can avoid to make the shows is to persuade as many people as possible that it ha nothing to do with the crash, the downing of mh17. the malaysian prime minister is concerned the site hasn't been properly secured, meaning vital evidence may have been compromised. >> interfering with the scene is undermining the situation itself. any action preventing us learning the truth about what happened to mh17 cannot be tolerated. failure to stop such interference would be a betrayal of leaves lost. >> with -- lives lost. it's important to remember

the personal tragedies. a memorial has been set up at amsterd amsterdam's airport. people have been leaving flowers for the passengers and crew. >> that man, his wife and four children were on board. they were excited about starting a new life in malaysia, after three years of working in kazakhstan. >> 12-year-old, 10-year-old and 8-year-old children were travelling with their grandfather, their parents stayed in amsterdam for a few more days. the flight was the start of a gap year for university stupid richard main. he was on his way to australia after studying maths at leeds. >> 31-year-old crew member was living her dream of travelling over the world with malaysia airlines. just some of the victims of

flight mh370. >> i'll have more news from europe later. now it's back to doha. thank you very much. let's go to iraq where five car bombs have exploded into main lay shia neighbourhoods, baghdad. 26 have been killed, 50 injured. three of the blasts went off within 10 minutes. a suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives into a police checkpoint. and the islamic state group in iraq issued an ultimatum to christians and muslim minorities to leave mosul, capturing the city. the iraqi army has been able to dislodge them. we have this report on the many families living in fare of persecution. >> reporter: george is not his real name. we concealed his identity because he hopes to return to

mosul, his home town. he's a christian who fled with his wife when the ultimatum was issued. >> they stopped us on the way out. they took my idea. they took my money. i lived and worked my life in mosul. >> reporter: his wife said all that is gold is gone. >> i begged them the money and gold i had was for my son's wedding. they told us to leave or they'd take our car. >> since fighters took control of mosul in june, homes of anyone that opposes them have been marked and red and confiscated. on thursday the islamic state made a ruling giving christians three options - convert to islam, pay tax or be killed.

that ruling has terrified many. the church here is now home for tens of families. emanuel is the priest, and he fears for the worst. >> translation: we had been targeted before, but never to this extent of the the group is humiliating christians. >> some muslims in mosul and other areas under the control of the islamic state are targets of the discrimination. shiite and chev abbing minorities are killed, kidnapped or forced do leave. sunnis who oppose the group's ideology are persecuted. the islamic state issued a set of rulings. many are trying to cope and hiding their fears. there are others who say they prefer such strict teaching over marginalizition and being ruled

by a sectarian government. presenting an uncertain future on a country. still to come - escaping from crime and poverty, thousands of children from central america risk their lives to enter the united states. plus... ..the crash that damaged the car and this driver's formula 1 title hopes. - -

families ripped apart... >> racial profiling >> sometimes they ask questions... sometimes they just handcuff people...

>> deporting dreams... destroying lives... >> this state is literally redefining what it means to be a criminal alien fault lines al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> they're locking the doors... >> ground breaking... >> we have to get out of here... >> truth seeking... award winning investigative documentary series fault lines the deported only on al jazeera america hello, i'm martine dennis. let's have a run through of the top stories. international monitors have been given wider access to the scope of the wreckage of malaysia airlines, flight mh17 shot down on thursday over eastern ukraine. kiev is explaining skilled crews from russia for shooting down the plane. five car bombs explode in shia neighbourhoods across

baghdad. 26 have been killed, 50 injured. >> two israeli soldiers have been killed by gun fire by palestinian fighters on saturday. israeli ground forces are continuing to pound parts of northern gaza. 339 palestinians have been killed over the 11 days. and we are getting news in that we have not yet got confirmed, but reports suggesting that up to 14 israeli soldiers may have been killed by the military wing of hamas. let's talk to nicole johnson's. first, are you able to confirm that the incident happened? >> no, it's coming from the military wing of hamas. they are saying that 14 israeli soldiers have been killed in four different attacks. now, we know of one that alcas

aim is claiming. east of russia, they said a number of soldiers have been killed and injured. also at ash coal. but the israeli army is saying that that is not true and only two soldiers have been kill. information just from one side at this statement. >> thank you very much indeed. nicole johnson's updating us with the latest. as soon as she gets more she'll be here with us with the latest. we'll hear from gaza itself, from the hamas interior ministry in gaza. one the last couple of hours a statement has been published asked egypt to do nor to help. >> translation: we demand egyptian authorities open the rafa crossing, without delay, to meet the basic necessities of our people under the israeli

aggression, and refrain from using it as a playing card to pressure our people. we urge the people of egypt to support the palestinian people during the israeli war. our fellow brothers, sisters and daughters are being killed. okay. we can look at what we think is an outline for hamas demands, which could constitute a truce with israel. let's have a look. it says there must be an immediate ceasefire on both sides, israel must commit to completely lifting the land and sea blockade of gaza. a rehabilitation plan must be put into place to rebuild gaza. an end to operation brothers keeper, originally launched to find three missing settler teenagers, since found murdered. and lastly hamas is demanding

israel's administrative deteping -- detention policy end. we talk to a senior analyst live from london. what do you make of that? >> this is something we haven't heard before because of an israeli initiative. this time around there is a genuine, apparently, hamas initiative that takes into consideration basic demands saying look, if we arrive at a ceasefire after the directions in gaza, we cannot go back to the status quo of one big prison camp. at the end of the day there has to be ask changes to the status quo by lifting the seem and releasing the prisoners. indeed, you are pointing out what i'm looking at as well.

it seems very much as though this hamas set of conditions is seeking to change the reality on the ground, beyond a halt in hostilities. >> well, of course, because hamas rejects the notion of quiet for quiet. after israeli bombardment of hundreds of communities and the killing of hundreds and the thousands of casualty yes. hamas demands that we go back to the 2012 understanding, and that the siege is lifted. look, at the end of the day israel cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting a similar result. this war is not winnable. you cannot win against 1.5 palestinians for communities, it's not a war to be waged against communities. at the end of the day gaza has to live in a seminormal

situation until a just and final piece is reached. until then they cannot leave as subhumans in a prison camp. this is not a sustainable situation. everyone understand that, and the situation tends to be demist citied by israel somehow, as if it's a war against hamas, when we know for a fact that hamas popularity increased because of israeli campaign. >> what about the issue, the issue of prisoners in this document that we have got in front of us. it says that israel should complete its obligations under the schille at deal. what is that about. it relates to the israeli soldier gilad shall eat. >> there are two prisoners, hamas prisoners from last areas

and those released in 2012, but put back in prison after the latest killing of three young jewish settlers on the west bank. what hamas is saying, we never took responsibility for that for the killing of three people, we have nothing to do with it. you have no right after a deal signed and release of prisoners, you have no right to put them back in prison. the prisoners need to be released and others as well, because, you know, if you arrive at the ceasefire that paefs the way to a -- paves the way to a settlement, political plifteners -- prisoners cannot stay in gaol, and there's thousands in israeli gaols. the u.s. is named as a guarantor. there's no mention of egypt. (a), does this signify the end of egypt as a broker within the palestinian-israeli conflict and the united states, are they

prepared to take this on, i wonder? >> it's simple. i think hamas doesn't trust egypt. it would have wanted egypt to play a role to pave the way for a normalization, because egypt is an important neighbour. they don't trust abdul fatah al-sisi because of their crackdown on companions in the muslim brotherhood movement. what hamas and the palestinians are looking for is a ceasefire that is not based on fire power. they are looking for a ceasefire that takes into consideration the rites, the basic human rights of 1.25 palestinians. a ceasefire not based on fire power, but fairness. they don't think egypt can do it. they think one country in the world has leverage over israel, that is the united states. whether the united states takes off as the sponsor of israel and occupation remains to be scene. >> finally, and briefly, if you

would. is this likely to be considered too ambitious - this is the thing. will israel accept it, of course. actually, that remains to be seen. that's an important point. these are hamas's conditions, and usually in a situation like that, it was expected that the turks and the qataries would mediate with the united states. and there are demands, and israel would have its open demands. you cannot start by having zero demands. you cannot start with having a quiet for quiet while israelis live happily ever after, and the palestinians as subhumans in a big refugee camp. there's a paper on the table saying here are the basic demands. some, if not all of them need to be met. >> thank you. our senior political analyst. >> well, israel said that the purpose of this current ground

offensive is to destroy tunnels used by hams a smuggle in -- hamas to smug in in weapons. israel released a video showing tunnels in gaza used by fighters to attack israel. it's released this video showing the tunnels being blown up. hamas released video showing it's standing up to the israeli forces, showing troops using the tup else that the is -- tunnels that the israeli troops are trying to stroi. while tunnel else are being targeted, the economy is reliant on goods brought through the tunnels to get around the israeli blockade.

it is thought that there are as many as 12 hunt, many in a narrow corridor south of rafa. since egypt destroyed almost all the tunnels over the past year, prices soared and fuel shortages have occurred. in the past closure of the tunnels would cause losses of $200 million to the local economy says hamas. there's a secret network of tunnels to bring in weapons from the sinai and launch attacks on the israeli forces. we have an expert on international relations from the tel aviv university, he says israel can destroy the tup else without getting -- tunnels without getting involved in fighting in the built you have areas. >> the entrances to the tunnels are close to the border. most of the built-up areas are

further down towards the west and the south. so, in fact, israel could eliminate most of the tunnels without getting involved in heavy fighting inside the built-up areas. israeli army, the israeli political leadership, are intent on trying to minimise actually the terrible cost and casualties of civilian population. once the israeli army penetrates into the built-up areas, then the probability of civilian casualties will reez quickly. >> -- rise quickly. >> 15 egyptian soldiers have been killed in the western desert. gunmen shot at the soldiers at a checkpoint. they used rocket propels grenades in the attack. >> three al jazeera journalists

have spent 203 days in an egyptian prison. they are accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. mohamed fadel fahmy and peter greste were gaoled for seven years. baher mohamed was given seven years, and received an additional three because he had a spent bullet in his possession, which he picked up at a pro-september. al jazeera demands -- protest. al jazeera demands their journalists be freed. drug testing on babies in mothers and babies homes in ireland. >> there are accusations that children were used as guinea pegs for vak signations whilst in the care of the catholic church. the irish government is facing pressure to car yoi out a -- carry out a full investigation. we spoke to some of the victims.

>> reporter: having a baby a joy us experience, but for the infants their carers had other intentions. that baby became marie, separated from her unmarried mother by the nuns and adopted out of one of ireland's mother and baby homes. >> it's faded over time. >> reporter: not before being treated as an experiment by a drugs company, which injected her at nine months, with a test for diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio, without knowing what would happen. catholic church treats all lies as sacred, that's why it doesn't like abortions. >> i see the concern for the preborn, not the post born. >> reporter: there used to be a home in dublin. children that died were sold to

doctors, bodies used for medical ranch. >> the vaccine trials took place. it's come shooting back to the surface an an overarching mother and baby home scandal. this week the united nations criticised the irish state in the strongest terms for a lack of willingness to take on the catholic church, a church which, after all, took babies from their mothers and claimed to be caring for them. this is not only an issue for the catholic church. this home was run by the anglican church of ireland, and the drug tests were run here. victor remembers all the children lined up for the doctors and nurses and maintains the state knew all about it. >> let's call it what it is. it is vulnerable children with no contact with their parents or guardians, no one taking responsibility or in loko parent. >> and a few medics and drug

people taking advantage of very, very vulnerable children in an enclosed setting, where nobody knows what is going wrong. if it goes wrong, who cares, who knows and who will be held to act. >> this created a head ache for gsk, which brought the company responsible for the trials, and is now dealing with the legal consequences. gsk is trying to help. it says what has come out is unsettling. marie has been told she was used for tests. others bear the scars, but don't know for surement the government said it will hold an inquiry into what happened in the homs. it's not clear -- homes, it's not clear whether drug testing will form a part of it. cyprus is marking the anniversary of a turkish invasion that led to its division. it's been split between greek

cypriots and turkish cypriots. peace talks are continuing. is sib are yous likely to reunify. a poll was commissioned for 500 on each side. the april for many is -- answer formany is no. >> on the question of whether people on both sides of the divide believe cypress will be reunited there were differences. 58% of greek cypriots said no. among the younger certainiation like these people -- generation, like they say people 18 po 30, 58% to not. >> when we asked people on both sides of the buffer zones if they could live together after 40 years of division, 50% of turks said they could, rising to 61% in the 18-30 age group. 69% of all the greeks polled on

the issue said yes, they could live together. when questioned about peace talks, there was not much optimism between everyone. 74% said the tacks would fail. 60% of greeks agreed. >> in terms of a future deal, we asked if each side would be happy with the creation of two federal states, something the turkish community would argue for. 64% of greeks disagreed. full reunification of the island is what greeks demanded. >> there has been a u.n. peacekeeping force in cyprus since the 1960s. 80%. greeks said it was needed, reflecting fears about turkish rehabilitation. 52% -- reaction. 52% agreed. discoveries of gas in the seas caused excitement on both sides.

we asked if it may help to solve the cypress problem. 59% said it would. 50% of turks agreed. there has been attempts to forge a deal, and this year new talks have started. but what our poll finds is despite the willingness of both sides to live together, people have little faith in politicians. overcoming 40 years of division and mutual suspicion is an enormous challenge. and you can find more details of al jazeera's poll results on the website. aljazeera.com. stories featured in the interactive page of the "in depth" section. you are up to date with the latest news from here. back to doha. thank you very much. still to come in sport - we'll tell you about the man who went from breaking and entering to breaking records. that story after the break with

andy. .

>> we're here in the vortex. only on al jazeera america. . >> time for sport. >> rory mcilroy takes a lead into the final round. the last player to have a big advantage at this statement was tiger woods, a decade ago. >> reporter: the threat of bad weather meant a 2-tee start for the first time.

it was another slick performance from rory mcilroy. the northern irishman got two eagles in the last three holes. completing a round of 68. rory mcilroy has two major championships to his name, but is yet to win the open. he is now extending his lead to six shots at royal liverpool, and 16 under. >> this is the third night in a row that i'll sleep on the lead. i'm comfortable. i have been in this position and been able to convert and get the job done. alongside rory mcilroy, ricky fowler plays in a second round for the second sunday and a row, the american on 10-under. >> it will be a good time. we are good buddies. we want to beat up on each other as well. we'll have fun, you know,

throwing shots back and forth. it will be fun to see if i can go out and put pressure on him, and make him earn it and see if i can get myself in the mix. >> a round of 69 for sergio garcia means he and johnson are a stroke behind. the spaniard with seven top 10 finishes, but has never won the claret jug. victor is looking to end france's 114-year major drought, fifth on eight under. today's was the -- tiger woods was the last player to have a lead. this time he's struggling at 3-over. rory mcilroy's effort a 54-hole record for the royal liverpool course, a 56 from rory mcilroy on sunday would give him the lowest ever score at any open championship.

nico ros berg qualifies in poll for the german grand prix. the williams pair will be behind him on the grid. ros berg saw his mercedes team-mate, lewis hamilton crashing out during the session. hamilton crashing at a speed in excess of 200 k/hr, and is expected to be fit for sunday's race, but will start in 15th place. >> it's great. a home race is fantastic. of course, would have preferred if it was an open fight with lewis. a little less, you know hope as a result. lewis didn't have a shot at it in the end. a fantastic day up until now. >> india's batsmen build up a lead of 145 in a test match with england, finishing on 159/4,le home side bowled out for 319.

kumar taking 6 wickets. nib alley tightened his grip on the tour de france. he finished second, extending his lead to 4.5 minutes. a polish player is ahead claiming a win on his debut score. ironman-triathlon is a tough sport, competitors taking on a 4km swim, 80km on the bike and they run a marra tonne. getting to the start line for one man is an achievement. >> reporter: john mcill voi is one of the fittest men in britain. he's training to qualify for the world ironman championship, preparing for a challenge on the world record for rowing in the atlantic. he's a long way from being a

typical sportsman. >> there were guns pointing to me and they shouted "get down on the floor." >> in his former life he was an armed robber, one of britain's most wanted men. >> i had been around organised crime from a young age. frommate, nine years old. >> it was here, on it quiet street in south london, on 7 september 2005 that john's luck ran out. >> my hands were up. a couple of them came over, dragged me to the floor, they handcuffed me. i lay there and i was deflated. i knew, i was done. as a criminal well-known to the police and well connected to the underworld, he was september here. while in gaol john started breaking rowing machine records, one after the other. the elite took notice and after a release by the parole board he has string partners ahead of the

challenge of. >> one of the thigs that he -- things that he showed, getting to the standard he got to was the meant alt drive -- mental drive that he was going to sit there. >> john's biggest motivation is to stop others from making the same smacks. >> all i want is respect and admiration. this is what i felt. you want the admiration. you can get that through sport. you don't need to be a gangster, a badman. john's message is simple... >> i wasted a decade of my life locked in a cage. i hope that my story and my life can inspire them to look and think if he can do it, so can i. plenty more sport later. that is it for now. thank you. more to come at al jazeera. we'll have a full bulletin of news coming up right away.

>> [gunshot]. >> there's a lot of very brave