this is news coming to you live from berlin a stark choice for israel in crucial elections sputters are deciding whether to extend the tenure of. prime minister benjamin netanyahu for a fifth term or to shift to a centrist candidate with a strong military. also on the. guilty verdicts for the defiant leaders of the pro-democracy demonstrations in hong kong their umbrella movement peacefully shut down the city for months ultimately with beijing to tell you what the verdicts mean

for free expression in the chinese territory. the regs it deadline is late friday night so there's just no time for british prime minister theresa may to cross the channel for direct pleas to chancellor merkel and president a call for another extension. plus restoring a civic institution to its former glory book club breathing new life into nairobi's colonial era library will tell you what they're doing to make the library attractive for new use. oh i'm terry martin good to have you with us it's election day in israel voters there are deciding whether to extend prime minister binyamin netanyahu has long conservative tenure he's up against. military chief any gun it's

a centrist who's made much of corruption allegations against netanyahu but is new to politics the vote is expected to be so close that it could lead to frantic negotiations to form a coalition government once results are in as ever the choice of israeli prime minister will have a major impact on the future of the region we'll talk to our jerusalem correspondent in just a moment but first this report. this is probably not it was benjamin netanyahu intended when he decided to call early elections at first it looked like an easy win for the israeli leader now he can't be sure anymore netanyahu is under pressure allegations of bribery and fraud have dug at the prime minister israel's attorney general is preparing to indict him on corruption charges netanyahu has political ally u.s. president donald trump has even lent a helping hand to formally recognized israel's authority over the long disputed golan heights but trump's political gift was quickly overshadowed. hours before

trump signed the proclamation rockets from gaza hit an israeli home. israel launched retaliatory strikes in gaza. first being no let up to weekly protests along the gaza israel border fence some two hundred palestinians have been killed since they began a little more than a year ago. and now the newly formed centrist blue and white alliance and its leader benny gantz pose a serious challenge for netanyahu and his right wing likud party the heated campaign battle between the prime minister and the former army chief has been marked by personal insults fake news and dirty tricks. a record forty seven parties have registered for the election each party needs a minimum three point two five percent of the vote to enter the knesset but no matter which party comes out strongest it will probably need the small far right

and nationalist parties to form a majority and to govern the country. over the very latest let's cross over to our correspondent tanya kramer who's standing by at a polling station in jerusalem turn your israelis are casting their votes today expect. well that's right i'm just standing here right in front of a polling station is school it's a bank holiday today people have off from work to encourage them actually to go and vote in the last elections in two thousand and fifteen there has been a rather high voter turnout of over seventy percent so we have to wait and see how it looks this time and of course then it's a long waiting time until twenty two hundred local time when the first exit polls i expected to be published by all the television stations here and to see how israelis you know give us an in the case and how israelis have voted today. and you've been talking to voters there polling station this morning what are the main

concerns in this election. well usually israelis would say you know it's all about cannot make issues it's about the economy it's about security but in these elections it has been a bit different all the people i talked and also old and then said been talking about it is more about. rather a referendum even you could say about a benyamin netanyahu he has been in the post for over ten years now and as they come that says you know we can't run the country without bibi netanyahu as he's called and there are those who are saying it's too long they should be a change of government and they are hoping to achieve that with these elections the political landscape in israel is very fractured generally no single party gets anywhere near a majority in the knesset how tough could it be for the winning party to build a coalition this time round. yeah that's right i mean there's never one party

that has some authority so it's all about coalition building so what usually happens is once the results are in then the party leaders who it recommend who they would like to see as prime minister that doesn't have always to be the strongest party and the president will then tossed the leader of the party leader. who has the most chances of forming that government that can be sometimes rather difficult at least to have a month to do so. we have to wait and see and wait for the exit polls tonight to get an indication who that will be what about the other countries in the region surrounding israel time you know they're watching this election very closely to what are they expecting. what i mean obviously they will also watch very closely what happens to benyamin netanyahu has been around for a long time and that is probably the main and the decisive point of these elections

to see whether he will continue to be to form the next government and to be the next prime minister and to continue with the politics that are very well known here in the region or whether we have maybe another part of the government a more centrist party with benny gantz he's not so well known in the house been the army chief of staff but he you know what he stands for really in politics he's new come into politics that is still to see so i think this is what also the other countries here in the region will watch out for tony thank you so much for bringing us up to date cramer in jerusalem. now to hong kong where a court has found nine pro-democracy activists guilty on charges of incitement and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance colonial era law believe they were charged in connection with the twenty fourteen protests so named. for the yellow umbrellas carried by activists to

shield themselves from tear gas. for the bus rallies held over a period of several weeks called for greater autonomy from china. joining us in the studio to talk about all this is a reporter in hong kong native one schwinn legal to see you so how trent tell us more about the activists and why they ended up in court so these nine these nine activists all played a role in either leading or promoting the protest back in twenty fourteen. are used to be university professors. students. among them three of three are seem to be the face of the protests in fourteen so back in. back in that time. disobedience. because decided to allow people to directly

elect their leaders that sounds like that sounds pretty like that's right but it comes of course with a prize because. people could only choose a candidate from a list that is approved by beijing pre-approved by beijing and so these activists civil disobedience calls for protests and then that they join forces with some other student protests and that became the movement that we know today and then during these movements they got arrested it's. just they have ok so the activists are calling for for a greater say in their elections affecting hong kong. what kind of set says could the defendants and the who are found guilty of these colonial era charges what kind of sentences could they face well they could face up to seven years of jail but we don't know that yet however

a lot of them already said that they are not afraid of that they are going to come back and that they will continue to fight for their political rights and what do these verdicts mean for hong kong and the pro-democracy movement there well some. some say that this is sending a very very strong message to political activists in hong kong and that this will have a chilling effect on the freedom of speech in hong kong and. in fact already facing string strength in political freedom and there's a long list i could tell you but i'm obviously we don't have the time but just for example last month hong kong government proposed to him and it's extradition law that would theoretically allow secretive to be sent back to mainland china and that's for many political activists it's. very dangerous and there are many other examples so the verdict today is just another blow to the political

freedom and her call so it's possible that these defendants could end up serving time for in jails in mainland china we don't know that we don't know that yeah ok. the reporter thank you so much. now some other stories making headlines around the world today heavy gunfire has been heard at an anti-government protest outside the defense ministry in sudan the mass sit in had begun peacefully during the day after nightfall witnesses said security forces and riot police fired shots and tear gas in a bid to disperse demonstrators from the military complex. the libyan militia group advancing on the capital tripoli has launched an air strike on the city's only functioning airport forcing it to close down the self-styled libyan national army has ignored international calls to halt its offensive united nations says thousands

of civilians in tripoli are fleeing the fighting. brazil's president says he told president donald trump that he wants the united states to take part in a joint development program for the brazilian amazon region in a radio interview of boston are repeated his previous criticism of rain forest reserves for indigenous communities which are home to about twenty five million people so. you're watching news still to come on business what is it about iran's revolutionary guard that makes them terrorists in the eyes of the u.s. government e.w. speaks of washington special envoy to read about what's behind that is now official terrorist label. with less than one hundred hours till the next break that deadline for it is prime

minister theresa may is heading across the channel in a bid to persuade european leaders to give her more time even to june thirtieth to gain approval for her deal to withdraw all the u.k. from the e.u. maize tour will take her to berlin and paris for talks with the german and french leaders while on monday the british part. voted to require the british government to require nick to request an extension from the e.u. rather than crash out of the union without a deal as it stands now the u.k. is scheduled to leave the e.u. without a deal on friday. mr nigel larger. four weeks the british parliament has been this enough chaotic debates with prime minister terrorism a no caught in between britain could see and no deal exit from the european union as early as friday may is hoping for lifeline a deadline extension from brussels on wednesday she plans to ask the e.u.

for move time prefer until june thirtieth but she needs help. may is heading to mainland europe with the first stop in berlin where german chancellor merkel opposes a hot breakfast it but will she support mais timetable probably not if it means breaking ranks with other this. even. as we as the twenty seven even member states will stand together and we want to do everything possible up to the last hour to avoid a disorderly exit by britain's. merkel supports an orderly back set something may won't get to hear in paris. french president in manama has voiced concerns about another extension of the breck said negotiations. cannot be held hostage to the resolution of the political crisis in the united kingdom on a long term basis and britain there's little hope there to resent make unresolved

the brics it issue despite her charm offensive around europe's capitals. joined by our political correspondent. so we've got two recent make coming across the channel talking to european leaders she's going to be visiting. asking for another extension what kind of reception can she expect from chancellor well that's the great question his american has always said. is going to do everything in order to prevent and no deal breaks it and this is the ground on which the two leaders are going to talk today to find a way to avoid this disorderly breaks it but at the same time it is thout full that that can really expect great concessions because. the european leaders have been fairly clear that there won't be any touching up on the withdrawal agreement are

you america wants to avoid a disorderly brakes. because this would have a negative impact on german economy and with all the uncertainty. with this whole brics issue this is the one point that analysts can agree on this would have a heavy impact so the chancellor has said where there is a will there will be a way but it's not for i'm going to macro to to sketch this way she expects off may that she has dropped from the turn as of way she has to say she has to present an idea what she would do with the time she would gain with with that extension a memo. to you patty has said. is not acceptable at all is to reason may doesn't come up with an idea what she's doing with that time and in

addition isn't very happy with great britain taking part in the european elections so maybe i'm going to america will back an extension on to the twenty second of may the bay before the election but not until the end of june after meeting with chancellor merkel theresa may will then go on to paris for meetings with french president but what call. berlin in paris on the same page when it comes to bricks it know is there. for him than for her patients. clearly seems to run out of this virtue he's highly skeptical and has said you can't become a hostage to great britain's politics and he doesn't see any benefit off the of a possible extension furthermore with that bill the u.k. parliament just passed last night the influence of parliament on the whole process

will grow and it is much harder it will become much harder for british government. to control the process off off the exit so that makes it more difficult for the european leaders to accept an extension and so my call will probably take a heart of on the whole issue then i'll go america has always stressed that it is really important that the remaining e.u. members stand united on the question of the brics it. pokes person yesterday said it is always good to talk and this didn't really sound as if my could expect much concession on your political correspondent thank you so much. course we'll be following teresa mayes visit to berlin for you very closely here at g.w. now the united states has formally declared iran's elite revolutionary guard

a terrorist organization it's the first time the u.s. has labeled part of a foreign government in such strong terms the white house says it is simply acknowledging the reality in the region that ran it says is a state sponsor of terrorism and relies on the revolutionary guard to export terror washington's decision triggered a response from iran which now says u.s. forces in the middle east are terrorists. is washington bureau chief alexander phenomenas spoke with the u.s. special envoy for iran brian hook first what washington hopes to achieve by labeling the revolutionary guard and its special operations unit they could force as a terrorist organization. mr hope the disease nation of the revolutionary guards as a foreign terrorist organization marks the first time that washington has presented a foreign military a terrorist group what are you hoping to achieve well the costs of doing business

with the i.r.g.c. has gone up today and it's important that we do that it we're never going to have a more peaceful or stable middle east without weakening the ira g.c. and the qods force they are the principal driver of iran's expansionist foreign policy and i think since two thousand and seven they have been fairly successful but that sort of success comes a great cost to united states and also to our european allies what are the consequences of the decision today well we have a we have certain authorities that we now can use to prosecute people who provide material support to the ira g.c. in the cards force it also creates immigration issues for people who if they do that you can also come to the united states and it also gives us a range of new tools to essentially stigmatize and isolate the i.r.g.c. in the cuts force and this is important because the i.r.g.c. controls possibly more than half of iran's economy and so when you've got european

companies or any companies around the world who are doing business in iran it very well could be an ira g.c. front company and we know that they use that revenue and they spend it in places like syria and lebanon and iraq and yemen with the who thiis and in bahrain supporting their militias so we think this is a very appropriate thing to do it adds a new layer of sanctions on top of our existing sanctions on the ira g.c. critics however say that this move will have little or limited impact and it that could complicate the work of the u.s. military and u.s. diplomats especially in iraq where many militias and iraqi political parties have close ties to iran revolutionary guard so how are you going to address those concerns i think it's a two part question on the first part. this is a tool that congress gave us in one thousand nine hundred seven we have over that time designated almost seventy various terrorist organizations as foreign terrorist organizations that has not impeded the conduct of our diplomacy and it won't

competed in this case complicated in this place the second part the i.r.g.c. and their expansionist operations that is the biggest threat to american troops and if we were to guide our foreign policy on the basis of iran's threats to retaliate we would be playing under their rules and when you play by house rules the house always wins we think this is very important to expose the i.r.g.c. in the ca's force for what it is it has all of the attributes of a terrorist organization and we should not lie to ourselves that this is a benign entity of the iranian government that just has a role in its economy it's much bigger much darker and much more brutal than that. was it always washington bureau chief alexander from naaman speaking to u.s. special envoy for iran for. now a library are vital for any city there are spaces to learn relax and read nairobi kenya as capital has

a beautiful library but it's rundown and the books are ancient two women have taken it upon themselves to restore the library to its former glory style an eco reports . traffic jams and busy street life is what most people associate with nairobi but nestled in the city center lies the macmillan library a space of peace and quiet but also a building that transports its visitors back into a different era yeah this is my favorite room. in this room at media. and i. want to restore the colonial era library as well as two smaller libraries in nairobi a mammoth task seeing as many of the books and documents have simply collected over the years. tons of books that we knew water air of an entire collection of roosevelt's writing. and more recent have been digitized but we fear

from of the old stuff and then just stop keeping these massive dusty. in twenty eighteen the two partnered with a county government and found that their organization the bank. as active members of nairobi's writing and publishing community they're fascinated by the possibilities of the library they've organized readings from screenings crowdfunding and guided tours to raise money and awareness for the libraries. for the station and it's been said that people want spaces to be functional on the spaces to have things like. you to do things like toilets. lighty. book says the family we want to recognize themselves in the collection is a big one. we do recognize that the books that are in the paper have been here for decades and they reflect the reality of the nation of haiti and before that when

when celebrities will build and that hasn't changed in. despite its shortcomings a library remains a refuge for students of those escaping hectic city life. jacobson and i has been mcmillan's chief librarian for over twenty years has dealt with it all from budgetary constraints to failed innovation efforts and yet he seems to have been crippled with a new enthusiasm at one zero and bring with them a lot of stand for one there is hope. to. have a lot of interest from one of the most and the poor we need to see in these i do and i have been thinking over and over it in the numbers the publicity through the library tours and social media has even drawn in first time visitors and the city do you think there's anything interesting but i'm pretty impressed i think it's an extraordinary structure one. or two it just seems that the place that it's

a place that people can come and reflect in and work and read and. even in today's digital age one zero and feel that my rubin's need these spaces especially if they can serve as cultural hubs. you know well the two dream of new books by african and other modern day authors art exhibitions and cafes the first task this year is to take stock and bring the library back into shape. and we end with some much needed good news for a group of captive whales in russia whose flights prompted an outcry from the public and even celebrities like leonardo dicaprio authorities have signed a deal with international. scientists to free the nearly one hundred whales orca whales have spent months in cramped ten spear the sea of japan for code that's after a company called to export them to china images of the whales sparked

a campaign to free them forced to interview. you're watching d.w. news up next kristoff will be here with business going to be looking at france's top restaurants and asking question where do they get their caviar from six. more still to come.

up. crushing anniversary play and destroy still the tight knit in the hunting expedition because clegg claimed leipzig scored the most beautiful goal of the day

in a furious comeback against sleeplessness claimed. sixty minutes. to. clear what's coming up on the going to sleep so much movement to. get this thing and plenty of his whole life here because. it's fun to take a look at what all that means for the table of course. if you're going to sleep every weekend here on t w. play lists and extravagant clinton hosts who really know their stuff.

with field and definition of. the party and chat with musicians from around the world. groups every week dublin live. playing a summit on the change prefixes chinese and european leaders are gathering in brussels for talks the meeting comes after china e.u. member italy part of its controversial bed and road infrastructure initiatives also come. where do most top notch restaurants in france get their caviar from well the answer might surprise you and oil prices reached levels they haven't seen in months and unrest in libya further reduced supplies on the world marc.