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Joe Biden has said he “strongly supports” a new $61bn (£49bn) aid bill for Ukraine, arguing it will “send a message to the world”.The aid package is to be voted on this Saturday. The long-stalled measure is one of four that the House of Representatives will vote on.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, the Australian bishop who was stabbed at a Sydney church on Monday, has said he forgives the attacker. In an audio message, the bishop said he was “recovering quickly” and urged the community to remain calm.

Several Gulf states are being hit by heavy rain, causing deadly flash floods and disrupting flights at the world’s second-busiest airport. Dubai International Airport warned of “very challenging conditions” and advised some passengers not to turn up due to flooding.

Qatar’s prime minister has said the country is reassessing its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. Qatar has been trying to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages.

Swedes can change their legal gender from the age of 16, after the Swedish parliament passed a law lowering the age. The law passed with 234 votes in favour and 94 against in Sweden’s parliament. Sweden was the first country to make gender transition legal – in 1972. But the new law has sparked a debate. For some, lowering the age from 18 to 16 will make an “important difference” but critics say more research is needed.

The EU will expand sanctions on Iranian producers of drones and missiles following Iran’s attack on Israel. More than 300 missiles were launched from Iran, with 99% of them shot down or intercepted by Israel and its allies. Iran launched its attack after an Israeli strike on its consulate building in Syria killed 13 people.

The second night of Champions League matches get underway tonight with both English clubs – Manchester City and Arsenal – in action and with it all to play for. 

UK inflation falls as meat and crumpet prices drop Food prices have dropped on items such as meat, crumpets and…

Wednesday’s newspaper front pages feature a variety of stories, with no strong lead dominating the papers. There are a few hot topics, mostly domestic stories, splashed across several papers. 

For a couple of the right-leaning tabloids, the news that a Muslim pupil has lost a High Court challenge brought against her school in North London, over a ban on prayer rituals, is celebrated on the front splashes. 

The planned smoking ban, which passed its first hurdle in the Commons yesterday, is also reported on. Some papers look at the health benefits of a smoking ban, others report on it being “un-conservative.” Several papers pick up on the 165 Tory MPs who abstained from voting – suggesting PM Rishi Sunak’s party is fracturing. 

Elsewhere, there’s room for more UK and international political stories including the ongoing Middle East crisis and US inflation.

Several Gulf states have been hit by heavy rain, causing flash flooding across the region and flights being diverted from Dubai Airport – the world’s busiest airport. At least 18 people in Oman have been killed by floods, according to authorities. Several states have recorded nearly a year’s worth of rain in one single day.