BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine federal judge on Wednesday ordered British and Israeli companies to stop developing an oilfield off the Falkland Islands, opening a new legal front in the decades-old sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain that Argentine President Javier Milei has revived in recent weeks.
The injunction by Judge Mariel Borruto, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, targets the Sea Lion oil project 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of the British-controlled archipelago in the South Atlantic, barring drilling, offshore installations and port construction until Argentine authorities can conduct an environmental review and issue a decision.
But in practice, Wednesday's order is unlikely to halt progress on the project. Judge Borruto acknowledged that enforcement “depends on international cooperation and the conduct” of the two companies, Israel's Navitas Petroleum and Britain's Rockhopper Exploration, which have already vowed to press ahead with the project despite Milei's threats of tougher sanctions against them and other companies operating around the islands.
Rockhopper declined to comment, and Navitas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the injunction.
With its commercial oil production expected to start in 2028, Sea Lion has raised the stakes of a territorial dispute that led Britain and Argentina to a short and bloody war in 1982.
For the territory’s roughly 3,500 residents, the oilfield promises to transform an economy long dependent on fishing. For Argentina, which calls the islands the Malvinas, the project would allow foreign companies to extract oil riches it regards as its own. Its claim to the archipelago, roughly 480 kilometers (300 miles) off its coast, is enshrined in the constitution and woven into national identity, drawing support across the country’s political divisions.
U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Argentina's radical libertarian leader, has brought new uncertainty to the dispute in recent weeks. Citing Britain’s lack of support for his war against Iran, he has suggested that Washington could change its historically neutral stance on the islands’ sovereignty.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Saturday, Trump again expressed skepticism that Britain would be able to retake the Falklands as it did after Argentina's military dictatorship invaded in 1982, saying, “I don’t know if they’re going to be willing to travel that far."
Milei seized on what he called “winds of change” following Trump’s comments earlier this month, using a Sept. 3 national address to announce measures against companies developing oilfields around the islands. He warned that the projects posed a “clear and urgent danger” to Argentina’s sovereignty claim and pledged to use all “diplomatic, economic, judicial and legal tools” to defend it.
His administration is now preparing legislation to broaden sanctions against companies involved in oil projects around the islands and filed three criminal complaints against Tel Aviv-listed Navitas and nine other companies and their executives, accusing them of violating Argentine law by pursuing oil operations without the country's authorization. It's unclear what impact the charges have on the project.
Britain has responded to the Argentine government’s legal campaign with defiance. It argues that the people who live in the Falklands should determine its status, citing the results of a 2013 referendum in which islanders overwhelmingly voted to remain a British territory.
“Argentine domestic law does not apply within the Islands,” the British government said Tuesday in guidance aimed at reassuring businesses operating there.
Wednesday's ruling issued by the federal court in Argentina's southernmost province of Tierra del Fuego stems from a separate civil lawsuit brought by environmental lawyers and veterans of the 1982 war seeking to prevent environmental damage from the project. The complaint cites ecological threats ranging from chemical pollution and underwater noise to ship traffic and potential oil spills.
Borruto warned that allowing drilling and construction to proceed could alter the marine ecosystem in ways that would be difficult to reverse.
“The risk is neither hypothetical nor remote,” she wrote, noting that work on the project’s infrastructure had already begun.
Associated Press writer Débora Rey contributed to this report.
FILE - Sunlight breaks through the clouds over Stanley on the Falkland Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Across the runways this New York Fashion Week, designers reimagined spring dressing by shaking up the season’s staples of florals and pastels, opting instead for more modern and irreverent trends.
From legacy brands to emerging talents, designers including Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Eckhaus Latta brought joy back to dressing with sartorial twists on color, movement and contrasts that could easily transition off the Spring/Summer 2027 catwalks and into New York’s busy streets.
While New York Fashion Week is only the first stop for celebrities and fashion editors before seeing what London, Milan and Paris have in store, the celebratory tone is bound to be contagious.
Designers had a lot to celebrate, with many marking career milestones: Rachel Comey notched 25 years, Michael Kors and Carolina Herrera reveled in 45-year anniversaries for their brands, and Coach hit a storied 85 years.
Coach sent models down the runway in party hats, glittering gowns with colorful large bow trains, and gift-wrapped present accessories for its anniversary.
InStyle Fashion director Kevin Huynh said designers are waving goodbye to the quiet luxury era and leaning into vibrancy.
“We’re really stepping into like, more is more,” he told The Associated Press, “but not in that dopamine dressing where everything feels haphazardly put on, but like a real sense of vibrancy and excitement.”
At Eckhaus Latta, designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta feted their J.Crew collaboration with confetti. Guests were told to open envelopes on their seats at the sound of laughter during the second half of their show and toss rainbow confetti onto the runway.
“Designers are really trying to kind of have fun and show the power that fashion can have in uplifting and inspiring people,” Matthew Velasco, ELLE’s fashion news editor, said.
Tory Burch embraced joyful dressing as a sense of escape, with models in color-blocked embellished looks strutting around a circular indoor catwalk that surrounded an outdoor garden with fountains. Burch said she wanted to contrast opulent femininity with utilitarian sportswear. Her collection featured embroidered cardigans with brightly colored skirts, boa-like thin scarves and a turquoise coat with a matching bag.
“I think when things are a bit more rough in the world you need to dream,” Burch said.
Ralph Lauren opened New York Fashion Week by bringing romance and a celebration of style to the runway.
“It’s about ways of dressing that celebrate ingenuity, originality, and character — the freedom and fun of creating a style that is truly personal,” he said in his show notes.
Michael Kors had the optimism to stage his show outside in the garden at the Museum of Modern Art, where a bright orange trench coat and sunny yellow shoes popped against his black and white looks.
Thom Browne, who often leans into whimsy, created a show inspired by “A Bug's Life,” with a giant indoor garden and models dripping in green crystals that hung from layered suiting. Some channeled actual ladybugs and butterflies with giant colorful hoop skirts, and jackets that looked like cocoons, eliciting smiles from the crowd.
Designers may not be feeling blue this season, but the color was certainly interwoven throughout their collections.
Ralph Lauren played with a palette of blues — from his classic denim to satin and lace gowns, to suiting and blue fur and feather collars. Tommy Hilfiger said he often takes his inspiration from nautical flags, so primary colors — including navy — were prevalent on classic and oversized blazers and rugby shirt stripes on his runway at The Plaza Hotel. Tory Burch styled turquoise and navy, and Henry Zankov delivered teal on the runway this season for Diane von Furstenberg.
After a decade-long gap, the Diane von Furstenberg line returned to New York Fashion Week with Zankov unveiling his first collection as artistic director for the brand. Known for his namesake knitwear brand, Zankov highlighted animal prints on von Furstenberg’s signature wrap designs, while incorporating sheer blouses and dresses along with fluid suiting.
“You want to feel alive,” Huynh said, “like we’re coming out of the cold of winter, and color is such an easy way to accomplish that.”
“Chartreuse had its moment, but teal is something that feels really refined,” he added.
Cobalt blue or Klein Blue — made famous by artist Yves Klein — also took over the runways with Proenza Schouler and Sergio Hudson including the color in their collections.
All eyes were on waistlines this season as designers sent models down runways in cummerbunds, scarves and chunky belts.
For Daniella Kallmeyer of Kallmeyer, the designer added a cummerbund to a buttoned-down blue top over trousers, as well as a white cummerbund embellished with white beading over an all-black suited look.
“It’s that injection of androgyny with a cummerbund in womenswear that feels exciting and edgy,” Huynh said.
At Ralph Lauren, the designer wrapped fringed scarves around the models to break up an all-white look or add a pop of color to the waistline.
After shedding the constraints of winter coats and layers, designers introduced a freedom of movement and fluidity to their collections with fringe.
Asymmetrical dresses swayed with fringe at Jonathan Simkhai while shimmering fringe peeked out from an all-black look at Rachel Comey.
In a twist on tailoring, jackets dripping with fringe made their way down the runway at Monse.
“I always am a firm believer that with the Spring/Summer shows, designers really flex their prowess a little bit more than fall,” Huynh said. “You’re really getting the full spectrum of a woman and a man’s wardrobe.”
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2027 presentation as part of New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2027 presentation as part of New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
A model walks the runway during the Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2027 presentation as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Models walk the runway during the Michael Kors Spring/Summer 2027 presentation as part of New York Fashion Week on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Vincent Alban)
Models dance during the Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2027 presentation as part of New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
