The online editions of the Guardian and the Telegraph report this morning on yesterday’s meeting between Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama in Washington, which focused on the growing uncertainty in Syria. All reports note that Cameron announced an increase in both humanitarian aid and “non-lethal aid” to the Syrian opposition, taking the UK’s contribution towards opponents of Syrian President Assad to a total of £170 million. Cameron pledged to re-double efforts in finding a negotiated settlement to the conflict but appeared to play down the immediate prospects of achieving such an outcome.

In Syria itself, the Times and the online edition of the Guardian say that Assad’s troops have re-gained control of villages near Homs, crucial to keeping supply roots open to the capital Damascus. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that Assad’s forces have retaken the strategic down of Deraa, near the Jordanian border, constituting another blow to the armed opposition seeking to overthrow Assad. Also in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman writes that US President Obama is wise not to act in Syria, as he does not have the answers to crucial questions, such as whether supplying further weapons will exacerbate the bloody conflict or not.

The Independent includes a small item noting that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will today meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Russia and will appeal to Putin not to sell Assad a an advanced air-defence system.

The Independent online reports that the Hamas authority in the Gaza Strip is claiming success in a month-long campaign to root out “collaborators” with Israel. The Hamas Interior Ministry in Gaza claimed yesterday that several “collaborators” benefitted from the leniency promised a month ago to those who admitted the charges against them. However, the article notes that a Palestinian human rights group has questioned this.

In the Israeli media, economic issues once again dominate the headlines. Israel’s cabinet last night approved Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s budgetary plans with just Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz voting against the proposal. However, in a last-minute change to Lapid’s proposal, he agreed to remove plans to make cuts to the Shas ultra-Orthodox school system. It remains unclear exactly what kind of agreement was reached with Shas to secure the change. Israel Radio news says that Shas leader Aryeh Deri agreed that the schools would teach an agreed-upon national curriculum, while a report on the front page of Yediot Ahronot, titled “Lapid Forgoes Cuts to the Haredim” appears to indicate otherwise. Israel Hayom also covers the issue on its front page.

Against the backdrop of public spending cuts proposed by Lapid, Yediot Ahronot and Maariv lead on reports of alleged excessive spending at the Prime Minister’s residence. Both reveal data on the amounts spent at the Netanyahu residence on cleaning, food, clothes, make-up and hair.

Meanwhile, Maariv, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news all report prominently on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s brief visit to Russia today. All reports note that the meeting with Russia’s President Putin was arranged only in the last few days, reflecting the urgency of preventing Russia’s proposed anti-aircraft equipment sale to the regime of Syria’s President Assad.