The Kremlin deems regime change in Iran as “unacceptable” and warns that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would have severe global repercussions.

Matt Clifford, Sir Keir Starmer’s AI opportunities adviser, is stepping down for family reasons after six months in the role, having advised on the AI opportunities action plan.

The extension of the £150 Warm Home Discount will now support an additional 2.7 million households, bringing the total to over 6 million, including 900,000 families with children.

Wednesday’s UK newspaper front pages are dominated by the Middle East crisis, with Donald Trump’s hints that US troops could soon join Israel in the war on Iran leading the way. Many papers pick up on the US president’s call for Iran to ‘surrender’ and his comments that they won’t kill Iran’s leader, for now. 

Elsewhere, there’s some front-page coverage of the House of Commons vote on decriminalising abortion in England and Wales, the delay of the HS2 train project and, for the tabloids, continued coverage of the grooming gangs scandal. 

The government will announce a delay to the HS2 project, stating the London to Birmingham line will not be ready by 2033

MPs have voted 379 to 137 to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, marking significant changes in reproductive rights after nearly 60 years.