UK Headlines this morning are heavily focused on the United Nations (UN) General Assembly which got underway in New York yesterday. There is in-depth coverage of US President Obama’s speech to the forum in the Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Sun, Daily Mail and Independent i. Obama focused on hopes of reaching a diplomatic solution over Iran’s nuclear programme and announced that US Secretary of State John Kerry would pursue such a course. Obama also emphasised the importance of concluding a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, while the Independent also notes his frustration over the continued failure to agree a UN Security Council resolution on Syria. The Independent online says that UN inspectors will return to Syria today to further investigate the deployment of chemical weapons.

The online editions cover Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s address at the UN General Assembly late last night. The Guardian online notes Rouhani’s apparent willingness to engage in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme, but notes his admission that development has already reached an “industrial scale.” The Independent online notes that Rouhani pointedly did not mention Israel during his speech but was scathing over UN-authorised sanctions on his country. The Telegraph online highlights the response to Rouhani’s speech from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that Iran is seeking to buy time through talks while it continues developing a nuclear military capability. The Telegraph print edition and Evening Standard include individual items outlining Netanyahu’s concerns that Rouhani intends to deceive the world by ‘smiling his way’ to a nuclear bomb.

An editorial in the Guardian emphasises that the stakes are high for the region but that the leaders of both the United States and Iran made the right noises to thaw relations s. In the same publication, Martin Chulov says that the apparent willingness of Iran to engage with the West constitutes a great opportunity at the most crucial point in global diplomacy in several generations.

Meanwhile, the Times reports that a new political group launched in Egypt, bringing together a diverse group who oppose both the Muslim Brotherhood and military rule. The Guardian includes a feature on the Oslo Peace Accords twenty years after the agreement was signed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington.

The Israeli media remains dominated by two stories. Significant attention is given to developments at the UN General Assembly. YNet covers Iranian President Hassan Rowhani’s speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s critical reaction to it and previews today’s events. These are set to include a meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran’s foreign minister, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s scheduled address the General Assembly this evening. Israel Hayom highlights US President Obama’s announcement that Kerry will conduct direct talks with Iran over its nuclear programme, while Maariv’s headline says that there was disappointment in Israel over Obama’s speech.

The other major story is the continued hospitalization of Shas’ spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, which is a major front page story in Makor Rishon. Maariv reports that while Rabbi Yosef fights for his life, Shas party leader Aryeh Deri is fighting for his political future as questions begin to be asked about the future direction of the party. Israel Hayom reports that mass services are being held to pray for Rabbi Yosef’s return to health.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports that the national carrier El Al has halted daytime flights to Eilat airport citing security concerns. The southern resort city of Eilat has been a target of rocket fire from Islamist groups in Sinai during recent months.