diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b4228aaa46d..96368773cb4 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ What's New in Python 2.7.3?
 Core and Builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Issues #12610 and #12609: Verify that user generated AST has correct string
+  and identifier types before compiling.
+
 - Issue #11627: Fix segfault when __new__ on a exception returns a
   non-exception class.