PRESS REVIEW – May 11, 2026: First, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure following the Labour Party’s disastrous results in the local elections. Next, the Guardian features an exclusive extract from Iranian Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi’s diaries. Meanwhile, the situation in Cuba is on Libération’s front page. Finally, Spanish sports papers celebrate Barcelona as the new La Liga champions.
The British papers discuss the aftermath of Thursday’s local elections in the UK. The Guardian says Keir Starmer’s Labour rivals are “circling in” on him as he tries to cling on to power. The Times reports that former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has even issued an ultimatum: take immediate action to move Labour to the left or face a leadership challenge. The left-wing tabloid the Daily Mirror says that Starmer is going to make a speech later this Monday which will “make or break” his premiership. The Daily Mail says that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced he is “ready” for a leadership challenge.
The Guardian has an exclusive about Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, whose writings were smuggled out of prison by fellow inmates. She had been incarcerated since December 12 and is now in very poor health. She was released on Sunday evening on bail to receive medical treatment. El Pais reports that Iranian authorities have intensified their repression against dissidents, including Iranians abroad who criticise the regime. The New York Times says that Iranians are also now being hit by mass layoffs, due to the government-imposed internet shutdown, which has crippled Iran’s digital sector.
Next, French daily Libération features a special report from Cuba. The paper describes an “asphyxiated island” in peril on its front page. The lively streets and tourist hotspots of central Havana are empty, and visitor numbers are down almost 50 percent compared to 2025. The article says that 2 million people have left Cuba since the Covid-19 pandemic, which represents about a quarter of the country’s population.
Finally, Spanish sports paper Mundo Deportivo is celebrating the 2026 Spanish La Liga champions: FC Barcelona.
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