remove ast.__version__ (closes #12273)
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index e75de01..dd40d40 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 Core and Builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Issue #12273: Remove ast.__version__. AST changes can be accounted for by
+  checking sys.version_info or sys._mercurial.
+
 - Issue #11627: Fix segfault when __new__ on a exception returns a non-exception
   class.