What the papers say: Wednesday's front pages

A variety of stories feature on the front pages of Ireland's newspapers this morning, from unrest in the Middle East to former Republic of Ireland player Anthony Stokes' sentencing.

The Irish Times leads with a story saying that the State plan to stop offering accommodation to new Ukrainian arrivals from March, a story about the Israel Defense Forces moving away from the Irish UN post in Lebanon, and a story about Cab being unable to access seized Bitcoin.

The Irish Examiner leads with stories about Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon, hurricane Milton in Florida and a story about bus services in Cork.

The Irish Independent leads with a story about Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald threatening to embroil "senior" government figures in controversy surrounding her party's handling of a child sex abuser.

The Echo leads with a story about over 18,000 children being on medical waiting lists in Cork, alongside a story about Junior Certificate results being released.

The Herald leads with former Republic of Ireland soccer star Anthony Stokes being jailed for 15 months for cocaine possession and leading gardaí in a car chase while being over the legal alcohol limit.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with a story about Irish tour rep Hazel Behan's agony over the lack of conviction in her trial against Christian Brueckner, who is also suspected of kidnapping Madeleine McCann.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story claiming that Irish soccer star Savannah McCarthy, who was injured in a car accident on Sunday, had a four-year driving ban imposed on her last month and was driving when the accident took place.

The Irish Daily Star leads with a story about 24-year-old Kyle McDermott from Co Donegal who was killed in Strabane.

British Newspapers

Warnings from the MI5 director-general that Russian spies may be on a “mission to generate mayhem” in the UK dominate Wednesday’s British front pages.

The Financial Times, UK Daily Mail and Daily Express all lead on the warning from intelligence chief Ken McCallum, who said threats from state-backed espionage are the “most complex and interconnected” the organisation has seen.

The i also focusses on comments from Mr McCallum, who warned he is “alive to the possibility” Iran could target Brits on UK soil if conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.

The Daily Telegraph reports Chancellor Rachel Reeves will consider lowering the tax-free lump sum savers can take from their pensions to just £100,000.

The Guardian says Ms Reeves is moving forward with plans to borrow billions for added infrastructure investment.

Immigration continues to fuel a population boom for the UK, according to The UK Times, but deaths have outstripped births for the first time in 50 years.

The Sun says Labour politicians pressured police into giving Taylor Swift a blue-light escort to her London concerts.

Prosecutors are “scrambling” to charge a suspect over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann after he was cleared in an unrelated rape trial, the UK Daily Mirror reports.

The Metro leads with “millionaire wags” Coleen Rooney and Rebecca Vardy battling in court over the cost of water in a hotel minibar.

The UK Daily Star reports ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson said No 10 Downing Street looked like a “crack den” after taking over from Theresa May.