The United States is taking an extremely hard look at its strategy in iraq after islamic militants captured the town of ramadi. He was officials also say they are sending 1000 antitank missiles to help iraqis fight off suicide bombs. Iran has also offered military aid in the fight for ramadi, but its feared that she is troops would lead to new tensions with the sunni majority. Across the border in syria as well, Islamic State is making major gains, including at the Historic Site of palmyra. These are the ancient ruins of palmyra. Islamic state fighters are at the gates of this unesco World Heritage site. Many here many fear i. S. Will destroy them as they have other cultural treasures. Reports say i. S. Took the city after clashes with government troops. Now the president is sending more soldiers to ulster his forces. I. S. Is advancing through syria and iraq. Control the areas marked here in red. They recently took control of ramadi. That took them to within about 100 kilometers from the iraqi capital, baghdad. The iraqi army is pulling tanks and artillery into position on the outskirts of ramadi, gearing up for an attempt to retake the city. The Iraqi Military part of a sunni government, has teamed up with shia militias to fight i. S. Its a new move, but for the moment, the conflict between sunnis and shia has been set aside, at least for the time being. These are the victims civilians, the elderly women children, and men. They flee not knowing where theyre going, and often finding their way blocked. The military refuses them passage, afraid that i. S. Fighters may be hiding among them. Once more, we find ourselves asking the question can i. S. The stop . Were joined by an expert on i. S. Welcome to the program. You spend a lot of time in iraq and syria, and youre extremely familiar with i. S. Why is it so powerful . Your Research Shows it has very professional field and intelligence officers. Kristof its one part. The core leadership was taken over in 2010 by former intelligence officers, military officers from saddams regime who have decades of experience in military penetration and takeover of populations, which is one of the reasons why they have proven to be so resilient and successful. Is your opinion that i. S. Is a useful enemy for the Iraqi Government. What do you mean by that, and how does this factor into the equation . Kristof you have i. S. On the one side and Iraqi Military or Syrian Military on the other side but in those countries particularly to be seen in iraq, you have to try angular regulations. I. S. On one side, and the sunnis who sometimes fight against i. S. And are not happy with it, but at the same time, are absolutely adamant in writing against shiite takeover, shiite control, which they consider as a foreign foreign iranian power colonizing their territory and for the shiite Iraqi Government still heavily influenced by iranians. Isis is in a way a useful enemy because they consider sunnis secondclass citizens. They want them to stay out of power by any means. If you have sunnis who join i. S. , you can consider them terrorists. Thats what happened at the beginning of the year. If you see what happened, for example in ramadi, the sunni policeman, the militants they were begging the iraqi Central Government for reinforcements for ammunition, for weapons, or at least paid salaries of the soldiers, which had not been paid for six months. From the acts on the ground, we see that baghdad did not really have a problem with ramadi falling into the hands of the Islamic State, and now offering the hand of shiite militias to help take it back, but made clear that the power is in shiite hands and only if we understand this triangular relation, we understand why again and again and again Islamic State can be so powerful. Great analysis there from an expert on i. S. From Germanys Spiegel magazine. Thanks for the insights. Europes top diplomat has visited the palestinian president in the west bank promising to continue the push for the palestinian state. This is her first trip to ramallah and the first by a highranking eu representative since israel elected a new rightwing government. To call for the israelipalestinian Peace Process to be revived. She set to hold further talks with israeli officials on thursday. The head of soccers world governing body, fifa, is also in the region. Is on the mission to persuade palestinian officials to drop emotions about israel being suspended drop a motion to have israel suspended. Prior to visiting the west bank, he met israels Prime Minister and proposed a piece match between israelis and palestinians. Hes been on a pr offensive in the west bank. Yet, despite the smiles, the fifa boss had little too great about. His only success so far as the formation of a working group aiding israeli, palestinian, and be by representatives and fifa representatives. This group should meet monthly to analyze and monitor the situation. But the palestinian football associations till wants israel kicked out of the international federation. They say their players movements between the gaza strip and the west bank are being limited, and they say israel has also failed to effectively address what they say is racism in israeli ball. We are convinced that most fifa members share our views of the situation and will support our proposal. The palestinians want fifa to penalize israel for having five of the clubs based in settlements in the west bank. That is something considered illegal under International Law and was also breaks fee for rules also breaks fifa ru les. Its a tricky situation. The boss wants to resolve it diplomatically but at the congress at the end of may, in 2 3 majority in favor of barring israel could make things complicated, something hell want to avoid as he tries to renew his presidency. Diplomacy on multiple levels. Our jerusalem correspondent is covering the story now and joins us. Time you what is at stake in the palestinian vote on israeli membership . Tonya i think what the Football Federation what the Palestinian Federation wants to see them in knowledge the problems they have, to get their support for finding solutions to their daily problems, which are related to the israeli occupation, which go against the rules of fifa. They denied the restriction on the rules of players. For example, a full a player from gaza does not need a permit to train in the west bank or to leave the country. Another demand, which is one of the sticking points, is a demand by the Palestinian Federation to exclude israeli clubs which play from settlements. So far, we understand no brakes have been reached on these issues, and for israel, that could possibly mean a vote for sanctions against them possibly next week, but if this does not succeed, the media is already saying that the palestinians have managed at least to gain a symbolic three on that matter. We saw the eu Foreign Policy chief is also in the region. What is she hoping to accomplish . Shes here on a very short mission, less than 24 hours to find out as the delegation said, about the possibility of bringing the two sides back together to negotiate and also to show that the eu is prepared maybe to play a more Important Role in this. We have to understand the new Israeli Government is watched very mostly now by the International Community it shifted even further to the right. Many ministers do not support a palestinian state despite Prime Minister netanyahu saying he supports a two state solution, something he said if only during his election campaign. But it will be very difficult to get both sides back to the process. Theres also talk about a new United Nations resolution that rightly brought back to the game to get some kind of process thank you very much. Moving on to other news now there has been more violence in burundi after the president said he would delay parliamentary elections by 10 days. To change pushing polls back to june five is at the request of the International Community. The country has been destabilized by an attempted coup against the president launched after he said he would stand for a third term in office. The election which will decide that is scheduled for june 26. To ireland now and healing as possible, even when the heart ache continues those are the words of writtens Prince Charles on day two of his landmark visit to ireland. The next in line to the british throne was speaking close to the spot where his great uncle and other family members were assassinated by the ira back in 1979. An attack at the height of the Northern Ireland conflict. This is where it happened in western ireland. The ira blew up the boat just as it set off on a family fishing trip. A terror attack that should britain to its core. A highranking commander in the queens cousin and the queens cousin. Hundreds of locals gave charles a warm welcome as he visited the very same harbor. Its believed hes the first of the royal family to do so. And at a peace and Reconciliation Service charles spoke of the pain and his forgiveness. Prince charles a time i could not imagine how we would come to terms with the anguish of such a deep loss since, for me, he represented the grandfather i never had. The prince said he also feels the pain of all the others who died during irelands 30year conflict and said ireland and britain need no longer be victims of their difficult history. North korea has canceled an invitation for the United Nations secretary to visit. Pyongyang has not given an official reason for the cancellation. Is in his native south korea meeting with senior officials. He was supposed to visit a factory complex in north korea. The plant is a cooperative venture between south and north and is the last Major Corporate project to be run by both sides. American and cuban sailors have competed in their very first regatta together in decades. Teams from both countries raced in front of waterfront landmarks near cubas capital in what was billed as a strictly friendly competition. It comes as relations continue to improve the tween the cold war adversaries. Dont know who won that race. Well a formula one World Champion will be staying with mercedes for the next three years. Guess how much he will earn . Fix a price confirmation came after weeks of negotiations and speculation that he might to for ari might move to ferrari. The new contract is said to be worth about 140 million, making hamilton one of the best paid drivers in the sport, probably in the sporting world. And he negotiated it himself so the lawyers get nothing. Extra bonus there. Well be right back. Welcome back to the show. Very good news in Southeast Asia where countries have agreed on an emergency plan to help refugees fleeing myanmar and bangladesh. The Foreign Ministers of indonesia and malaysia say they will allow refugee boat currently stranded as the two land on their shores. Thailand and this insists they cannot take anymore refugees but says it will longer push back boats from its territorial waters. Some 7000 migrants are waiting for help in the Regions International waters, most of them from a persecuted minority and myanmar. Finally, a breakthrough. Malaysian and indonesian diplomats have agreed to offer temporary shelter to migrants stranded at sea. Amid a worsening humanitarian crisis countries in the region have come under International Pressure after refusing to let the migrants ashore. Indonesian fishermen rescued several hundred on wednesday. Now, indonesia and malaysia say they need outside help. Indonesia and malaysia agreed to continue to provide assistance to those 7000 regular migrants still at sea. We also agreed to offer them temporary shelter provided that the settlement and repatriation process will be done in one year by the International Community. Some of the migrants are bangladeshi. Others are Rohingya Muslims from myanmar. Myanmar pass government refuses them citizenship. They suffer rampant discrimination and frequent attacks. Human Rights Groups say tens of thousands of her finger of ry ohingya fled this year. Many paid human traffickers huge sums omitted by themselves abandoned that he. They say the conditions at home are intolerable for muslims. We went on a book to look for a Muslim Country either malaysia or indonesia. It doesnt matter what country as long as its a Muslim Country. Now myanmar has also offered assistance to refugees after weeks of refusing to do so. A huge business story making the headlines six of the worlds biggest banks have been find nearly 6 billion for rigging foreignexchange markets and International Interest rates. The banks have agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges brought by the u. S. And british regulators. Authorities called the scope of the banks wrongdoing breathtaking. Its a recordbreaking punishment for the banks involved. Ubs, barclays, citigroup, j. P. Morgan chase the royal bank of scotland, and bank of america. The charge rigging eurodollar Exchange Rates and key Interest Rates. Washington says the steep fines should send a signal to all banking and two shins. We are all banking institutions. Were here to announce major action against Financial Institutions that for years participated in a brazen display of collusion and foreignexchange rate market manipulation and will, as a result, pay a total of nearly 3 billion in lines and penalties. Fines and penalties. The 3 billion in fines is just what they will have to pay to u. S. Regulators. They will pay the same again in fines to authorities and the u. K. And switzerland. For the banks, the story does not in there. Washington says individual traders may still ace criminal charges. European markets lost a bit of steam in midweek trading. Our correspondent sent us this summary from the frankfurt stock exchange. Heavier after two days of intense endings and a jump of around 4 , it was quite difficult to keep the green numbers here at the frankfurt stock exchange. Thats why we saw slight losses for the most part of the day. The good circumstances are still there, though. The euro is weaker, which is good or the german exporting companies, but there was one source of uncertainty the minutes of the latest meeting of the u. S. Federal reserve were published after closure here, which is why investors were cautious and did not want to take any risks. Experts assume there will not be an Interest Rate hike in the United States until 2016, but then again you know, the markets are always full of surprises. We stand for and for for a closer look at wednesdays numbers. In frankfurt the dax had finished at 11,008 hundred 48. The euro stoxx 50 doing a bit better. Across the atlantic on wall street, the dow down slightly in 18,284 point. The euro trading at a value of 1. 1120. Creating an efficient and honest tax system is a crucial audition for any nation. The german tax system is respected as an international model, and many nations are seeking dialogue and the exchange of valuable knowhow. This week, the German Society for International Cooperation has been hosting 27 students from african nations seeking to improve their systems at home. Its a big adventure for frank from malawi to be in berlin, away from his job back home in africa. Is a train come true, it is a dream come true, and most especially for me, a great time to get out of our country, and of all places, coming to berlin in germany. Its one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my life. They both work full time back home. In berlin, they are students once again, briefly, along with three dozen africans from 13 different countries. Their professors are teaching them a lot of the new things. One issue is taxation of crossborder transactions. Most of the students have not dealt with International Tax questions before. Its the first time they hear about it. Those who are experts on corporate taxes have never had to worry about income tax issues. How to tax people working in one country when they live in another. For ideas on how to improve the situation in africa, rank and his colleagues draw on european examples. Its important for them to change the perception of taxation among people back home. In many countries, the population considers taxes as a form of corruption or even theft. I think that we need to make people understand what is happening with our tax money. From a government perspective educating people in terms of how we spend the money and where the money actually goes to, to ensure that people who actually receive the money are actually spending it the right way. Most of the people back home have a negative perception ofptaxation, and therefore, in the end, we have more complaints. They simply think taxes are a form of the government stealing from people. They do not perceive the fact that taxes are for them. Like the taxes that pay for the student dorm they are staying in. Its basic that sufficient for their brief sojourn. In a few months, they will be returning to their jobs in africa and hopefully, they can apply what they have learned. Staying in germany, more than 30,000 people had to leave their homes in hanover in one of the biggest evacuations in the country since the end of world war ii. This was the culprit. A bomb from world war ii. It had lain dormant for 70 years in the grounds of a school. Many spent the night in a sports hall where city authorities set up that and offered food and drinks. Explosives experts were able to defuse the bomb, and everybody went back home nice sense. Maybe a little tired. Bosnia possibly civil war in the 1990s into decades of imposed peaceful coexistence between the region plus service croats, and Bosnian Muslims which was experienced under the totalitarian rule of the former yugoslavia. To heal the wounds or to help do so at that sectarian strife, pope francis will visit sarajevo and hold a mass. He has commissioned especially may chair to be carved for the event from a muslim family business. Grapes are an important symbol and christianity. That is something these muslims have learned. When they heard the pope was coming to bosnia, the father and son agreed they wanted to carve the perfect chair for him. When we got the job, i couldnt believe it. A lot of great artisans applied. They came to us, a little familyowned operation. I can tell you from deep in my heart, im very happy to work for someone like him. Everyone has a high point in his career, and ive reached mine. The master woodcarvers worked day and night on the chair. As muslims, they say its a special honor for the vatican to given them the assignment. Im proud to be muslim, but i work for all. I think people should believe in whom and what they want. He continues working while his father leaves to meet a priest. Bosnia is still a divided country after years of bloody war, which pitted religious factions against one another. Before that, christians and muslims had lived sidebyside. At first, i was certainly surprised by the muslims bid. But i thought it was a great idea, especially for bosnia. I passed the first draft of the vatican, and everyone found the design very beautiful. The artisans have plenty of creative freedom and creating and designing and designing and building the chair. They sometimes get help with christian symbolism. On the way home, he stops for supplies. He selects warmer would with an experienced eye. Making the chair is a new experience but he has already proved his adaptability. During the war, he carved prostheses for those who have lost limbs. I drive 30 kilometers to buy my would my wood. I think hes catholic but that does not bother me. The Political Parties write the attention here. Little. Me get along fine. The small details are all that they want us to film. They are keen to unveil the chair only for the pope. They dont want him seeing it on television first. Looking forward to seeing how that comes out. Thats all we have time for. Thanks for joining us. Keep it on dw. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org]