this is bbc world news. our top stories. switzerland's largest bank, ubs, is taking over its struggling rival credit suisse in an emergency measure designed to protect the swiss economy. in this difficult situation, the takeover of credit suisse by ubs is the best solution for restoring the confidence that has been lacking in financial markets recently. ukraine condemns vladimir putin's visit to mariupol, a devastated city which was captured by russian forces.

hello and welcome to bbc world news. the government of switzerland says that the country's biggest bank, ubs, has taken over its troubled rival credit suisse in an emergency measure designed to protect the swiss economy. fears about the possible collapse of credit suisse sparked falls in stock markets around the world over recent days, and raised fears of another global financial crisis. the rescue deal follows a weekend of emergency talks between the two banks, after credit swiss saw its value plummet over the past week. the swiss national bank said the deal was the best way to restore the confidence of financial markets and to manage risks to the economy. our geneva correspondent imogen foulkes explains the significance of this merger on the global stage. it's early days. but i don't think it's going to be easy. ubs is the bigger of the two,

but both of them are already huge. if you lookjust in switzerland, both of them have at least one branch, more in a big city like bern, but at least one branch in every town. so we are looking certainly at probably thousands ofjob losses, because what is the point of having two branches of the same bank in a small town or village? that's clearly not going to happen. but i think also if you look globally, there is going to be a lot of scrutiny now. these are both globally important banks. now it will be just ubs. what is going to happen with the investment sector? with the wealth management sector? further down the line, given that this meltdown seemed to take the swiss financial regulators by surprise, what does it mean for switzerland's reputation for being a safe place to invest your money? this is a catastrophe, frankly, not just for credit suisse

but for the swiss financial sector. the russian president vladimir putin has visited the ukrainian city of mariupol, believed to be his first time inside territory seized by russian forces. the visit provoked a furious response from some ukrainian officials — mariupol�*s exiled mayor told bbc news mr putin was a "criminal who'd returned to the scene of the crime". our diplomatic correspondent james landale reports from ukraine's capital, kyiv. vladimir putin arrived in mariupol by helicopter, at least according to pictures broadcast by russian state television. then he drove himself into the city amid tight security on what's thought to be his first known visit to parts of ukraine seized by russian forces after last year's invasion. in the darkened streets, he met what were described as local residents. the kremlin said it was a "spontaneous visit". they seemed happy to see him.

"we need to start getting to know each other better," mr putin said. "we pray for you," one woman said. "finally, you are here. we have waited for you so long." mr putin was invited inside to see one of their homes, seemingly a new apartment — the aim, it would appear, to show a city being rebuilt after last year's devastation. for this is what mariupol looked like last year after three months of russian bombardment, during which ukrainian fighters held out here at the azovstal steel plant — their long defence a symbol of ukrainian resilience. it was here, too, where russian forces bombed a maternity hospital — an early alleged war crime — along with a theatre where hundreds of civilians were sheltering and died. here in kyiv, the mayor of mariupol

told me how he felt seeing mr putin in his city. translation: like all ukrainians, like all mariupol residents, - i feel that today, a war criminal whose name is vladimir putin visited the scene of a crime he committed for several months — destroying the city of mariupol. the only city russian aviation is carpet bombing is mariupol. this is what parts of mariupol actually look like — contemporary images from local residents showing still—ruined tower blocks. long lines of people queuing for food. all in stark contrast to the reconstruction that mr putin did get to see, including a theatre that had been rebuilt. under bright streetlights, he was also shown a playground, only days after he was accused by international prosecutors

of illegally deporting thousands of children from occupied parts of ukraine to russia. james landale, bbc news, kyiv. let's get more now on our top story, and switzerland's biggest bank, ubs, has agreed to take over its troubled rival, credit suisse. i'm joined now by cornelia meyer, an economist and head of business consultancy mrl corporation. she's been following news of the banking deal today. thanks forjoining us. can you take us through this deal? ihell thanks forjoining us. can you take us through this deal?— us through this deal? well it has not been decided, _ us through this deal? well it has not been decided, it _ us through this deal? well it has not been decided, it is _ us through this deal? well it has not been decided, it is a - us through this deal? well it has| not been decided, it is a shotgun marriage, the brokers, the swiss regulators and the swiss government. ubs is buying credit suisse for $3.25 million, million dollars,

which is 3 billion swiss francs, less than half of the market capitalisation that credit suisse had on friday close of business. how did credit suisse _ had on friday close of business. how did credit suisse get into so much trouble? , , ., , ., , trouble? this is actually a very lona trouble? this is actually a very long story- _ trouble? this is actually a very long story- it _ trouble? this is actually a very long story. it started - trouble? this is actually a very long story. it started with - trouble? this is actually a very l long story. it started with credit suisse in 1990 not understanding the risk profile with a purchase. and then there was a whole series of scandals. i would say there were three very high profile ceos who were not swiss and didn't understand what this icon of swiss banking meant to the country. little by little, itjust went meant to the country. little by little, it just went further, meant to the country. little by little, itjust went further, slid further downhill, and a serious restructuring plan, new strategies,

none of which ever got carried out, because the situation deteriorated. and yet another strategy had to come out. ~ ., ., ., . ., out. will the deal announced today be enou:h out. will the deal announced today be enough to _ out. will the deal announced today be enough to calm _ out. will the deal announced today be enough to calm down _ out. will the deal announced today be enough to calm down the - out. will the deal announced today i be enough to calm down the financial markets? . �* , be enough to calm down the financial markets? ., �* , ., , , markets? that's the really big question- _ markets? that's the really big question. it's _ markets? that's the really big question. it's a _ markets? that's the really big question. it's a very _ markets? that's the really big j question. it's a very important deal, certainly for the swiss economy. if you look at how mortgages, credit suisse in the real estate sector, it was in peril, the business loans, the business sector was in peril. for the international markets, i think it shows that the regulator and the government acted swiftly. they found a private—sector solution, even though it's sort of... being insured by the state, but at least they managed to get this resolved reasonably quickly. but you know, on the other side of the atlantic, we had several banking

failures. although what is different there, credit suisse had a liquidity crisis because so many funds were withdrawn but it didn't have a capitalisation issue. you withdrawn but it didn't have a capitalisation issue.— withdrawn but it didn't have a capitalisation issue. environmental scientists around the world have spent the last eight years analysing evidence about the climate crisis. their work for the united nations will be revealed tomorrow, in the town of interlaken, high in the swiss alps. the report will become the benchmark for all discussions by politicians and governments on how to respond to the growing threat the planet faces. and as our climate editor justin rowlatt has been discovering, there's already clear evidence of dramatic change in the surrounding alpine environment. dave searle is claiming an ice face high in the alps. it's, like, super exciting, and there's so much happening and going on.

his safety depends on the strength of the ice. you're listening for a good thunk, and making sure that the ice axe isn't wobbly. but the ice in the highest mountains of europe and the world is changing. for me, it's been quite shocking how fast it's been developing. the winters are just much more mild. we're getting rain higher up the mountain. the greenhouse gases emitted since the industrial revolution have already raised global temperatures by a little over one degree, but the effects are even greater in the alps. the temperature up here is rising by about twice the global average. it has already increased by 2 celsius, and it is having a devastating effect on the snow and ice up here. at an observatory 3.5km up this swiss mountain, they've been monitoring the change

in alpine climates for decades. 30 years ago, it never rained, but nowadays in summer, very often, there is rain, even up here at 3500 metres. wow. yep. last year, the ice melt heat a new record. the glaciers of the alps lost 6% of their total volume. the very best forecast - for the future of our alpine glaciers is that we can save about one third i of the ice falling. this is the best case. in the worst case, we'rel going to lose everything. look how the glacier below the weather station is expected to retreat over the next few decades in that worst—case scenario. so, what does dr huss think the message from the un scientists should be? action is now urgently needed. for the glaciers, we see - the effects of climate change. this is illustrating how| urgent it is to act now. this landscape appears eternal —

literally frozen in time. but without dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the ice up here at the top of europe will be lost forever. justin rowlatt, bbc news, in the swiss alps. a charity that specialises in helping british muslims with financial problems says it's been overwhelmed by people needing assistance. the national zakat foundation has received up to two thousand applications a month for crisis grants — double the figure it was getting last year. michael buchanan reports. for a few hours a day, two—year—old ali has his house and his mother to himself, before his four siblings return from school. berlin is separated from the children's father. the family live off £236 a week. it's not enough, and she's built up large debts trying to raise

five children alone. they don't understand. they will ask me everything, "can you buy this, can you buy that?" they have to ask me for something, they want it. sometimes i say, "ah, tomorrow, we will do tomorrow," and they forget sometimes. muslim communities in britain are disproportionally poorer than the rest of the country. poverty levels are particularly high among people of bangladeshi, pakistani and black african heritage. this charity distributes zakat — money donated by muslims to help fellow muslims in need. demand for its hardship fund is greater than ever — some months, they're seeing over 2,000 applications. zakat, especially, has always been seen in the muslim psyche in britain, certainly, as for people who are homeless, foodless, in some far—off land. and just to overcome that, some people say, "ok, the community is here for you, zakat is yours, as well," that's difficult for us.

we're seeing a record number of people accessing support. i at the east london mosque, what started as a response to the pandemic has become an ongoing lifeline. a lot of our families, - they live in very overcrowded housing situations. it is a community that has always | been an poverty, that has reallyl been in poverty, that has really struggled with employment. and it doesn't really help, the fact that things - are really expensive. for this woman, her rent�*s the big problem — it's increased by £200 to 1500 per month. translation: i have two children who i need - to feed, but i can't work. it's so cold and chilly out there and i have no alternative but to come here. there's a huge stigma in muslim communities around asking for help from charities. but when bills are rising this rapidly, faith and family can only go so far. michael buchanan, bbc news.

vladimir putin welcomes china's willingness to play a "constructive role" in ending the conflict in ukraine, as xijinping prepares to head to moscow. comments published by the kremlin say sino—russian relations were at their "highest point" in history. beijing hopes to solidify its position as an international negotiator and deliver a breakthrough between russia and ukraine. exactly 20 years ago, us forces, with the uk and other allies, invaded iraq in order to oust the dictator saddam hussein. it was part of the us�*s war on terror, begun by president george w bush in the wake of the terrorist attacks of september 11th, 2001. the iraq war was hugely controversial in many countries. here, more than a million people had marched through london

to protest about uk support, under prime minister tony blair, for the us decision to invade. the first raids were on the capital baghdad — it took the us just over a month to overwhelm iraqi forces, and for saddam's baathist government to collapse. these images from the capital were to become iconic — a statue of saddam hussein being toppled on april 9th, attacked and pulled down by iraqi civilians and us marines. 0ur international editor jeremy bowen is in baghdad tonight. jeremy, the conflict didn't end with the toppling of saddam hussein. what has been the legacy of that war 20 years on? catastrophic consequences. iraq went through a catastrophe. hundreds of thousands of people were killed, no one knows exactly how many. the consequences read violence elsewhere in the middle east. they still rumble on. iraq is a highly corrupt,

violent and fragile society. it's had a better year so far in 2023, but the foundations left by the legacy of all that killing are fragile, and people constantly worry that they might slide back into some kind of intermittent fight or the risks of foreign intervention. iran is particularly influential, its allies run the government. jeremy, ou were allies run the government. jeremy, you were in — allies run the government. jeremy, you were in baghdad _ allies run the government. jeremy, you were in baghdad when - allies run the government. jeremy, you were in baghdad when a - allies run the government. jeremy, i you were in baghdad when a ceasefire was declared. returning to the city, what sticks out the you the most between then and now. —— for you the most. i between then and now. -- for you the most. . , between then and now. -- for you the most. ., , ., ., ., , , most. i have been to iraq many times over the years- _ most. i have been to iraq many times over the years. what _ most. i have been to iraq many times over the years. what i _ most. i have been to iraq many times over the years. what i would - most. i have been to iraq many times over the years. what i would say - most. i have been to iraq many times over the years. what i would say is i over the years. what i would say is if you put together all the years of saddam hussein and the 20 years since the invasion, you could say

the iraqi people have been tortured by their leaders and by the foreign powers who have intervened for a0 years. they have gone through a terrible, terrible time. this country has also suffered greatly because of the way sectarianism, conflict between the communities, was massively exacerbated by the impact of the invasion. 0ne was massively exacerbated by the impact of the invasion. one of the lasting effects on the country is the political system and the americans, helped by shia muslim exiles who were coming back, the system they installed, which effectively split power between the different communities. the result of that has been to enrich the elite, it's encouraged enormous corruption as people tried to grab the biggest slices of the cake possible. but

what it has not done is produce strong government and stability, which is the kind of thing iraq desperately needs if it's to try to revise... this should be a rich country, it has massive deposits of oil. , , . ~ country, it has massive deposits of oil. , , ., ~' ,, country, it has massive deposits of oil. , ., ~ country, it has massive deposits of oil. , ., . ., oil. jeremy, thank you so much for our oil. jeremy, thank you so much for your insight- _ the historicjohn lewis chain of department stores is looking into selling a minority stake of the business for the first time. the high street retailer, which first opened in 186a, is currently jointly owned by its staff. but the bbc understands the company's chair, sharon white, is looking into changing the business model in order to attract new investment. it's believed the plan is in its very early stages and no agreeement has been made. john lewis says staff will be the first to hear about any changes. a little earlier, i spoke to peter hunt, founder of mutuo. they're a group that advocates for mutual and co—operative businesses.

i asked him for his view of whatjohn lewis is considering. it looks like, just like every other high street retailer, they are suffering hard times and there are challenges and spiralling costs, and because they are a mutual, they don't have access to investment capital. it means they are having to use the debt they have got and their retained profits in order to invest in the business and it is just not enough. from what i've seen, they are looking to increase their investment by attracting external investors into the structure. and how would that change the current structure thatjohn lewis had? how would that change if external investors are invited in? it's a pretty big deal because at the moment they are fully owned by their employees through an employee ownership trust, and that means they behave differently. all of these different types

of mutuals don't behave the way that the usual corporate animal behaves on the high street, and that's why you get long—term business plans, you get stronger trust with customers, you get different behaviours from these kinds of businesses. if you bring in external investors, it can start to change that culture. we've seen significant losses in the high street over the last few years, and we do not want to see john lewis go down the same route. the thin end of the wedge of new investment could cause difficulties for them. what ifjohn lewis doesn't take this option? what could happen to the chain? we don't know how many different options have been considered, but one of the difficulties in the uk is that there are fewer options for mutuals in raising capital. if you look around the world, there are choices that other countries have taken where you can still raise external capital

but you don't risk the purpose of the business or give away control of the business to those investors. we think that's an option that should be explored deeply with the british government, maybe some urgent legislation is required to give some different options forjohn lewis so they can attract the investment they need, but not risk the culture and purpose of the business. how unusual isjohn lewis, how unusual is it to have a commercial company, such a large retailer, owned by its employees? it's unusual in the uk, it's not unusual around the world, there's a lot of employee ownership across the united states and in different parts of the world. but for a business of this size, it is not the normal structure. however, it is within a broader environment of different types of co—operatives and mutuals, all of which have interesting structures and ways of keeping this different business purpose going. we want to see corporate

diversity in the high street, we want to see different types of business being able to flourish and we don't want everyone going down the same route of this corporate monoculture, which ultimately will lead to everybody doing the same thing. in a 50—year career, he's notched up a string of hits including the first cut is the deepest, father & son and peace train. along the way cat stevens converted to islam, changing his name to yusuf islam. now known as yusuf/cat stevens, he's preparing to release his 17th album and play glastonbury for the first time. the singer—songwriter has been talking to our culture editor katie razzall about music, faith and performing on the pyramid stage. # it's not time to make a change, just relax... a voice some may have forgotten, now back at the glastonbury highlight with a new album more than 50 years after he first found fame as cat stevens. his

parents�* restaurant in central london was once home, it's long gone, replaced by a gallery, but still has a place in yusuf/cat stevens' heart.— still has a place in yusuf/cat stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen, stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen. 1967. _ stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen, 1967, when _ stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen, 1967, when i _ stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen, 1967, when i had - stevens' heart. that's me in the kitchen, 1967, when i had my. stevens' heart. that's me in the l kitchen, 1967, when i had my first hit. my imagination began in this place. it's where i started to look beyond the sink and the mock and i knew there was something else calling me. # now that i've lost everything to you... that calling was pop music, but after a bout of tuberculosis and a near death experience, in the 70s he converted to islam, changed his name and found a new spiritual direction. # 0h, direction. # oh, baby, baby, it'sa direction. # oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world. his face is at the heart of his latest album, called king of the land. i latest album, called king of the land. .., �* latest album, called king of the land. �* ., , ., 4' latest album, called king of the land. �* ., , ., ~',, land. i can't really not think about the divine and _ land. i can't really not think about

the divine and in _ land. i can't really not think about the divine and in everything. - land. i can't really not think about the divine and in everything. i'm i the divine and in everything. i'm trying to share those things and how we can actually get to somewhere much better than we are at the moment. , , . , much better than we are at the moment. , , ., , .,, much better than we are at the moment. , , ., , , moment. his status has been cemented. — moment. his status has been cemented, now _ moment. his status has been cemented, now he _ moment. his status has been cemented, now he is - moment. his status has been cemented, now he is to - moment. his status has been cemented, now he is to playl moment. his status has been i cemented, now he is to play the coveted legend max slot at glastonbury this year. it is probably _ glastonbury this year. it is probably on _ glastonbury this year. it is probably on a _ glastonbury this year. it is probably on a lot - glastonbury this year. it is probably on a lot of - glastonbury this year. it 3 probably on a lot of people's bucket lists. d0 probably on a lot of people's bucket lists. , ., probably on a lot of people's bucket lists. ,, , ,, , probably on a lot of people's bucket lists. , , ., lists. do you see yourself as a leuend? lists. do you see yourself as a legend? i've _ lists. do you see yourself as a legend? i've not _ lists. do you see yourself as a legend? i've not gone - lists. do you see yourself as a legend? i've not gone yet! - lists. do you see yourself as a legend? i've not gone yet! it. legend? i've not gone yet! it supposed — legend? i've not gone yet! it supposed to _ legend? i've not gone yet! it supposed to be _ legend? i've not gone yet! it supposed to be after- legend? i've not gone yet! it supposed to be after they i legend? i've not gone yet! it| supposed to be after they are legend? i've not gone yet! it - supposed to be after they are gone, you know? i reckon so. for supposed to be after they are gone, you know? i reckon so.— supposed to be after they are gone, you know? i reckon so. for some, he is a humanitarian. _ you know? i reckon so. for some, he is a humanitarian. he _ you know? i reckon so. for some, he is a humanitarian. he has _ you know? i reckon so. for some, he is a humanitarian. he has also - is a humanitarian. he has also founded several muslim schools. but he has been criticised by others for remarks in 1989 that appeared to support the fatwa against salman rushdie. what does he say about the recent attack on the writer? i was horrified because _ recent attack on the writer? i was horrified because i _ recent attack on the writer? i was horrified because i never - recent attack on the writer? i —" horrified because i never supported the fatwa. i took to as much length as i could go to explain myself but nobody wanted to write that side of

the story. for nobody wanted to write that side of the sto . ., ,., nobody wanted to write that side of thesto . ., , ., , the story. for some, the questions remain, the story. for some, the questions remain. despite — the story. for some, the questions remain, despite the _ the story. for some, the questions remain, despite the message - the story. for some, the questions remain, despite the message of i remain, despite the message of peace. but at 7a, what next for this artist? i peace. but at 74, what next for this artist? ., �* ~ ., ., ., �* artist? i don't know how long i'm auoin to artist? i don't know how long i'm going to be _ artist? i don't know how long i'm going to be making _ artist? i don't know how long i'm going to be making music- artist? i don't know how long i'm going to be making music for. i artist? i don't know how long i'm| going to be making music for. but artist? i don't know how long i'm i going to be making music for. but as long as there's music in me, there's going to be something to say. i will probably keep on singing as long as i've got a song. we'll have some sport for you at 10.30om, but first here's the weather with tomasz schafernaker. we will need our raincoats and bullies this week, it really does look very unsettled indeed, and especially wet in western parts of the uk. monday is no different, i don't think it's going to be raining all the time, but some rain on the way and they few glimmers of brightness. a lot of cloud in our direction. it stays mild and multiple weather fronts crossing the country through the course of monday.

more weather fronts out in the atlantic making a beeline for the uk. so the forecast then for monday shows mild conditions early. and see where the heavier rain is in the morning across parts of northern england, southwestern scotland and northern ireland. that's one front, you can see it moves northwards. and then in the southwest later in the day, showers gather across cornwall, devon, parts of southern wales by around about three. the best chance of brightness across the midlands, east anglia, lincolnshire, perhaps yorkshire, and it is way will have the mildest weather. elsewhere with the thick cloud and the outbreaks of rain, it won't be quite as mild, closer to 10-11, won't be quite as mild, closer to 10—11, much fresher conditions in the north of scotland with some sunshine in lerwick, about six or seven. three monday evening, it looks as though the rain will become more widespread and heavy as it spreads across the uk. tuesday's weather map, a broad area of low pressure across the atlantic,

sending weather fronts in our direction, quite a few isobars, which means the winds freshening through tuesday into wednesday. 0n through tuesday into wednesday. on tuesday, we are in between weather systems, one in the north sea, another one approaching ireland. we are in between with sunny spells and showers, heavy in one or two areas. very mild, 30—15, and through the evening the next weather front starts to sweep towards more eastern areas. —— 13 — 15. the big low pressure dominating the weather across the atlantic, like a washing machine of clouds and showers circulating multiple areas of low pressure. a very breezy day as well, and gale force winds possible around some western coasts. here is an overview of the week ahead, most days have rain icons, but relatively on the mild side.

we now know the four fa cup semi finalists after three more quarterfinal ties today. sheffield united and brighton went through. but the biggest drama was saved for the last match of the day at old trafford, where manchester united beat fulham. joe wilson reports.