‘4,000 people minding our own business’: four decades later, the Falklands face a hostile Argentina once again

@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https:The text you provided is CSS code defining web fonts, not prose, so there’s no natural-language meaning to preserve or simplify. It’s a series of `@font-face` rules that load Guardian Headline Full and Guardian Titlepiece fonts in various weights and styles (bold, black, light, regular, and their italics) from the Guardian’s asset server, in woff2, woff, and ttf formats. The final rule is cut off mid-URL. If you’d like, I can reformat this CSS for readability, but I can’t rewrite it as fluent English without changing what it is.@font-face { font-family: Guardian Headline Full; src: url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”), url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”), url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”); font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; }

@font-face { font-family: Guardian Headline Full; src: url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”), url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fo@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Titlepiece;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-column-gap:0px;grid-template-columns:100%;grid-template-areas:”media” “title” “headline” “standfirst” “lines” “meta” “body”}@media (min-width: 30em){#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption{padding:0 20px;max-width:620px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:100%;grid-column-gap:10px;grid-template-areas:”title” “headline” “standfirst” “media” “lines” “meta” “body”}#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent{padding-right:80px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:620px 300px;grid-template-areas:”title right-column” “headline right-column” “standfirst right-column” “media right-column” “lines right-column” “meta right-column” “body right-column” “. right-column”}#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent{padding-right:unset}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:140px 1px 620px 300px;grid-template-areas:”title border headline right-column” “. border standfirst right-column” “. border media right-column” “. border body right-column” “. border . right-column”}#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst{padding-bottom:0}#article-body>div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,.content–interactive>div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#comment-body .contFor interactive-grid figures with immersive captions, add 4px top padding. In interactive-grid layouts, place the lines and meta elements in grid area 2/1/5/2. Set the lines element to max-content height with a 5px top margin, and give the meta element an 18px top margin. At viewport widths of 81.25em and above, use grid columns of 219px, 1px, 620px, 80px, and 300px. On iOS and Android, set standfirst paragraphs to Guardian Headline with weight 500, display the article kicker section as a block with an uppercase first letter, add 12px top padding to keyline-4, and set byline authors to Guardian Headline with weight 700. Also on iOS and Android, make image figure inner containers auto height and remove the top margin from paragraphs following atom figures. Define the Guardian Headline Full font faces for light and light italic styles using woff2, woff, and truetype sources.@font-face { font-family: Guardian Headline Full; src: url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”), url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”), url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; }

@font-face { font-family: Guardian Headline Ful@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Titlepiece;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hintedThis is CSS code that defines font faces for Guardian Headline Full and Guardian Titlepiece, specifying various weights and styles with their source files in woff2, woff, and ttf formats. It also includes media queries that adjust the left margin of the content__main-column–interactive class at different minimum widths.{max-width:620px}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{max-width:100%}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{margin-left:0}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{max-width:620px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{max-width:860px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{max-width:1100px}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));position:relative;left:50%;right:50%;margin-left:calc(-50vw + var(–half-scrollbar-width, 0px))!important;margin-right:calc(-50vw + var(–half-scrollbar-width, 0px))!important}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{transform:translate(-20px);width:calc(100% + 60px)}}@media (max-width: 71.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{margin-left:0;margin-right:0}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{transform:translate(0);width:auto}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{max-width:1260px}}.content__main-column–interactive p,.content__main-column–interactive ul{max-width:620px}.content__main-column–interactive:before{position:absolute;top:0;height:calc(100% + 15px);min-height:100px;content:””}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{border-left:1px solid #dcdcdc;z-index:-1;left:-10px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{border-left:1px solid #dcdcdc;left:-11px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:12px;padding-top:12px}.content__main-column–interactive p+.element-atom{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:12px}.content__main-column–interactive .element-inline{max-width:620px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){figure[data-spacefinder-role=inline].element{max-width:620px}}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop figcaption:not(.hidden){z-index:6}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop button[data-link-name*=gu-video-loop]{align-self:flex-end;margin-bottom:40px;margin-right:3px}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop .controls-container div:has(button[data-testid=unmute-icon]),[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop .controls-container div:has(button[data-testid=mute-icon]){right:0;padding-left:10px}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) #caption-button{z-index:100}@media (min-width: 61.25em){[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) #caption-button{bottom:20px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.cinemagraph) .cinemagraph>div{max-height:unset}}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]{width:100%;max-width:620px;display:block;margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:12px}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo] figure.loop,[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo] figure.loop video{width:100%;height:auto;max-width:620px;margin:0 auto}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){max-width:unset;margin:12px 0}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure.loop,[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure.loop video{max-width:unset;margin:0}@media (min-width: 71.25em){[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){width:1140px;margin-left:-180px}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure figcaption{margin-left:20px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){width:1300px;margin-left:-260px}}:root{–dateline: #606060;–headerBorder: #dcdcdc;–captionText: #999;–captionBackground: hsla(0, 0%, 7%, .72);–feature: #c70000;–new-pillar-colour: var(–primary-pillar, var(–feature))}:root:root{–subheading-text: var(–secondary-pillar);–pullquote-text: var(–secondary-pillar);–pullquote-icon: var(–secondary-pillar);–block-quote-text: var(–article-text)}:root:root blockquote{–block-quote-fill: var(–secondary-pillar)}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]){–subheading-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–pullquote-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–pullquote-icon: var(–darkmode-pillar)}:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]) blockquote{–block-quote-fill: var(–darkmode-pillar)}}.content__main-column–interactive .element.element-atom,.element.element-atom{padding:0}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p,.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p,#article-body>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p,.content–interactive>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p,#comment-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[naThe provided text is CSS code, not prose, so it cannot be rewritten into fluent natural English without altering its meaning. If you can share the article or prose you’d like simplified, I’m happy to help.The provided text is CSS code, not prose, so it cannot be rewritten into fluent natural English while keeping the meaning intact. If you’d like, I can explain what the CSS selectors do in plain English instead.Here is the text rewritten in fluent, natural English:

For figcaptions inside showcase figures within the main content, feature article, standard article, and comment article containers, the position is set to static with a width of 100% and a maximum width of 620px. At viewports 71.25em and wider, these figcaptions become absolutely positioned with a maximum width of 140px. At 81.25em and wider, the maximum width increases to 220px.

Immersive elements are sized to the full viewport width, minus any scrollbar width. Below 71.25em, immersive elements have a maximum width of 978px, and their figcaptions get 10px of inline padding. Between 30em and 71.24em, that inline padding increases to 20px. Between 46.25em and 61.24em, immersive elements have a maximum width of 738px. Below 46.25em, they are shifted left by 10px with no right margin. Between 30em and 46.24em, the left shift becomes 20px and figcaptions receive 20px of inline padding.

At 71.25em and wider, showcase figures inside the body area or the interactive main column are shifted left by 160px. At 81.25em and wider, that shift increases to 240px.

At 61.25em and wider, the furniture wrapper uses a grid layout with 20px column gaps, no row gaps, and a set of named grid lines defining columns and rows. Within this wrapper, the first child of the headline gets a top border in the header border color. The meta section is relatively positioned with 2px of top padding and no right margin. Standfirst content has a 4px bottom margin, and list items in the standfirst use a 20px font size. Links within the standfirst have no bottom border or background image; instead they are underlined with a 6px offset, a 1px thickness, and the header border color, and the underline color changes on hover.a:hover{text-decoration-color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p:first-of-type{border-top:1px solid var(–headerBorder);padding-bottom:0}}@media (min-width: 61.25em) and (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p:first-of-type{border-top:unset}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper figure{margin:0 0 0 -10px}.furniture-wrapper figure[data-spacefinder-role=inline].element{max-width:630px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start] repeat(2,1fr) [meta-end standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(7,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] 80px [title-end headline-start] auto [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] auto [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}.furniture-wrapper #meta:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]:before{content:””;width:540px;position:absolute;top:0;background-color:var(–headerBorder);height:1px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p{border-top:unset}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before{content:””;width:1px;background-color:var(–headerBorder);height:100%;position:absolute;top:0;left:.5px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start] repeat(3,1fr) [meta-end standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(8,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] .75fr [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}.furniture-wrapper #meta:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]:before{width:620px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before{left:-.5px}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels>div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels>div{padding-top:2px}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1{font-weight:600;max-width:620px;font-size:32px}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1{max-width:540px;font-size:50px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines]{margin-right:0}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines]{display:none}}.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4 svg,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines] svg{stroke:var(–headerBorder)}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper #meta,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]{margin-right:0}}.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social,.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social ul li a span,.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__comment,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social ul li a span,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__comment{border-color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper #meta .content__meta-container_dcr>div>gu-island,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .content__meta-container_dcr>div>gu-island{display:none}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{margin-left:-10px;padding-left:10px;position:relative}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:2px}}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=stanFirst, p{font-weight:400;font-size:20px;padding-bottom:14px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{position:relative;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:2px;grid-area:portrait}.furniture-wrapper #main-media div div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] div div{width:100%;margin-inline:0}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{margin-bottom:0}}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:-10px}}@media (max-width: 46.24em) and (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{margin-left:-20px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption{position:absolute;bottom:0;padding:4px 10px 12px;background-color:var(–captionBackground);color:var(–captionText);max-width:unset;margin-bottom:0;min-height:46px}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span{color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span svg{fill:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(1){display:none}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(2){display:inline;max-width:90%}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper figcaption{padding:4px 20px 12px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption.hidden{opacity:0}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{display:block;position:absolute;bottom:10px;right:8px;z-index:30;background-color:var(–captionBackground);border:none;border-radius:50%;padding:6px 5px 5px}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button svg{transform:scale(.85)}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{right:10px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{top:-12px!important;height:calc(100% + 24px)!important}}.content__main-column–interactive h2{max-width:620px}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]){–follow-text: #dcdcdc;–follow-icon-fill: var(–darkmode-pillar);–standfirst-text: #dcdcdc;–standfirst-link-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–standfirst-link-border: var(–darkmode-pillar);–byline: var(–darkmode-pillar)}}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] div p{font-weight:500}:root body{–weekend-essay-bg: #fff4f2;background:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2);–article-section-background: var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2);–sub-meta-background: var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)}[data-gu-name=lines]{display:none}.furniture-wrapper{position:relative}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] .3fr [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title]{position:relative;height:70px}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels{height:inherit}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels:after{content:””;display:block;width:70px;height:70px;background-image:url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1791480673/book.gif);background-size:contain;background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;position:absolute;bottom:0;right:0}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels:after{width:110px;height:110px}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels>div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels>div{height:100%}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels>div:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels>div:after{content:””;display:block;width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:1px;background-color:#dcdcdc;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:-10px}@media (min-wThis CSS code defines responsive styles for a news article layout, adjusting the header height, headline font size, and spacing at different screen widths. It also sets hover effects for headline links and controls the positioning of the standfirst section..content__meta-container_dcr gu-island[name=Branding], .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .content__meta-container_dcr gu-island[name=Branding] { display: block; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { position: relative; }

@media (min-width: 61.25em) {
.furniture-wrapper #main-media, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] { grid-area: portrait; }
}

.furniture-wrapper #main-media > div, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] > div { position: relative; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media div + span, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] div + span { display: block; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure { height: 100%; margin-left: 10px; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure figcaption { width: calc(100vw – 40px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px)); height: auto; margin-left: 10px; padding: 10px 0; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure figcaption { margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 10px; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before { content: “”; display: block; width: calc(100vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px)); background-image: url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1791480673/frame.png); background-size: contain; background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 10px; height: inherit; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph div:first-of-type, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph div:first-of-type { background: transparent; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph video, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph video { width: 92%; margin: 16px 8px 0; }

.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph figcaption { margin-bottom: 12px; width: 93%; margin-left: 2px; }

@media (min-width: 23.4375em) {
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph video, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph video { width: 94%; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph figcaption { margin-bottom: 12px; width: 91%; margin-left: 9px; }
}

@media (min-width: 46.25em) {
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure { margin-left: 0; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img { width: 670px; height: auto; margin-left: 5px; padding: 15px 10px; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before { width: 700px; left: -10px; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure figcaption { width: 650px; margin-left: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 15px 10px; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph video, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph video { width: 96%; margin: 18px 6px 0; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph figcaption { width: 96%; margin-left: 6px; margin-bottom: 17px; }
}

@media (min-width: 61.25em) {
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before { width: 470px; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure figcaption { width: 450px; margin-left: 0; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img { padding: 10px 0; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure figcaption, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure figcaption { margin-bottom: 10px; }
.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.cinemagraph video, .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure.cinemagraph video { margin: 10px 6px 0; }
}

.furniture-wraAt 71.25em and up, the main media figure and media figure get a width of 550px. Their images are 520px wide with a 5px left margin and 10px 5px padding. Captions are 510px wide with a 10px left margin and 10px bottom margin. For cinemagraph figures, videos get a 12px 6px 0 margin, and captions get a 6px left margin and 15px bottom margin.

At 81.25em and up, the figure width increases to 630px. Images are 600px wide with 15px 0 padding. Captions are 600px wide with a 5px left margin and 15px bottom margin. Cinemagraph videos get a 16px 8px 0 margin, and their captions get an 8px left margin.

The caption button sits 15px from the right and 20px from the bottom. At 46.25em and up, it moves to 45px from the right and 30px from the bottom. At 61.25em and up, it returns to 15px right and 20px bottom. At 71.25em and up, it is 20px from the right. At 81.25em and up, it is 30px from the bottom.

When a cinemagraph is present, the caption button is 20px from the right. At 46.25em and up, it is 35px from the right and 25px from the bottom. At 61.25em and up, it is 25px from the right and 20px from the bottom. At 71.25em and up, it is 25px from the bottom.

The no-media div is centered with flexbox and takes full width. Its paragraph text is 24px, bold, underlined, and uses the byline anchor color.

At 71.25em and up, the interactive main column has no left margin and its before pseudo-element is hidden. A supporting aside containing a blockquote uses the weekend essay background color. The first letter of the first paragraph in the interactive main column is light weight. The first letter after an hr, after a progress bar wrapper, or in a drop-cap paragraph uses the Guardian Headline font family.Full, Georgia, serif; font-weight: 300 !important; font-size: 111px; line-height: 92px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; margin-right: 8px; vertical-align: text-top; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(–drop-cap, var(–new-pillar-colour)) }.content__main-column–interactive h2{color:#8d2700;font-size:28px;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;line-height:normal;margin-bottom:8px}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive h2{font-size:32px}}.content__main-column–interactive h2:has(strong){font-weight:500!important}.content__main-column–interactive figure:has(>iframe){background-color:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)!important}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive figure.element-showcase.element–showcase figcaption{position:absolute!important}}[data-rendering-target=apps] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],[data-app-os=ios] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],[data-app-os=ios] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],[data-app-os=android] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],[data-app-os=android] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper]{display:block;margin-top:10px}[data-rendering-target=apps] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,[data-app-os=ios] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,[data-app-os=ios] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,[data-app-os=android] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,[data-app-os=android] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span{font-size:14px!important}[data-rendering-target=apps] #main-media div,[data-rendering-target=apps] #main-media figure,[data-rendering-target=apps] #main-media picture,[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-gu-name=media] div,[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-gu-name=media] figure,[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-gu-name=media] picture,[data-app-os=ios] #main-media div,[data-app-os=ios] #main-media figure,[data-app-os=ios] #main-media picture,[data-app-os=ios] [data-gu-name=media] div,[data-app-os=ios] [data-gu-name=media] figure,[data-app-os=ios] [data-gu-name=media] picture,[data-app-os=android] #main-media div,[data-app-os=android] #main-media figure,[data-app-os=android] #main-media picture,[data-app-os=android] [data-gu-name=media] div,[data-app-os=android] [data-gu-name=media] figure,[data-app-os=android] [data-gu-name=media] picture{width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){[data-rendering-target=apps] body,[data-app-os=ios] body,[data-app-os=android] body{–article-section-background: #1a1a1a;–weekend-essay-bg: #1a1a1a}[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper .article-header:after,[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels:after,[data-app-os=ios] .furniture-wrapper .article-header:after,[data-app-os=ios] .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels:after,[data-app-os=android] .furniture-wrapper .article-header:after,[data-app-os=android] .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels:after{background-image:url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1791480673/book-white.gif)}[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path,[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path,[data-app-os=ios] .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path,[data-app-os=ios] .furniture-wrapper [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path,[data-app-os=android] .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path,[data-app-os=android] .furniture-wrapper [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] svg path{fill:var(–byline-anchor, #ffffff)!important}[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapperA dozen locals and a uniformed military police officer (“Do you mind if I sit in?”) took their seats at the back of the handsome wood-panelled courtroom that also serves as the Falkland Islands’ legislative assembly. Outside, it was a typically windy early evening. It may officially be spring in the South Atlantic, but Stanley harbour, its dark grey water dotted with historic shipwrecks, was a churning cauldron of swells.

Six of the assembly’s eight members — five men and one woman — waited patiently at a row of desks with microphones. The heating had been turned up to just short of uncomfortable. Behind them hung a portrait of King Charles. From the other walls, dusty photographs of governors of varying popularity gazed indifferently at the scene.

The Falkland Islands, home to approximately 3,600 residents

Proceedings began when a bored-looking young man in headphones in the corner raised his hand. He was broadcasting the question-and-answer session by radio across the dozen or so inhabited islands that make up the 778-island archipelago.

It was unclear how many of the Falklands’ 3,600 residents were listening from their farmhouses out in the diddle-dee shrub that covers much of the islands, or from the front rooms of Port Stanley’s white clapboard cottages with their pretty coloured roofs. Likely not as many as the number who learned 44 years ago from the Falkland Islands broadcasting station that their lands had been invaded.

“There’s no turning back, we can expect them by dawn,” the governor, Rex Hunt, had said then.

But for those who did tune in on Monday evening, there was much to think about — not so much the answers about the local internet contract or the consultation on the contentious salmon farm plan.

“I have another one for you,” piped up one enthusiastic questioner with a heavy local accent — a West Country burr with a slight antipodean lift. That prompted a little shuffling from tired bottoms. But a far more significant announcement was to come.

View image in fullscreen
Assembly members Roger Spink, Stacy Bragger and Lewis Clifton before the monthly meeting.

Lewis Clifton, an assembly member whose family has lived on the Falklands since the late 1870s, told islanders that an unprecedented economic war was being waged against them — a community no bigger than an English village — by a country of 46 million people.

“I am concerned that the level of Argentinian thrust this time has been at a different level,” Clifton said. “Perhaps a more vehement and belligerent tone than [seen since] 1982, because it has the potential to threaten our very economic development.”

Facing a downturn in his domestic polling and with an upcoming election, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has legislated to criminalise companies and individuals involved in the Falklands’ nascent oil industry, aand suggested the fisheries industry, on which it currently depends for its prosperity, could be next. The British military presence at Mount Pleasant airbase—1,800 personnel there and on Ascension Island, four Typhoon jets, a ground-based air defence system, and HMS Medway patrolling the waters—makes a military threat from Argentina largely hypothetical. But Buenos Aires has launched a full-spectrum attack of another kind.

View image in fullscreen. Aerial view of a new port and floating jetty being built in the Falkland Islands.

In response this week, Andy Burnham and his foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, restated the UK’s solidarity with the islanders’ wish to remain British, and promised legislation that might offer some protection against the financial damage caused by Argentina’s economic sanctions. Interpol received Foreign Office representations suggesting they reject an Argentinian request for arrests related to the dispute. For the islanders, it was a welcome show of strength. They have never felt entirely confident in the resolve of those in power back home. It was arguably Westminster’s indifference that led Argentina to invade in the first place back in 1982.

“I have never trusted the Foreign Office and I have been proven right,” said Norma Edwards, 84, whose husband, Roger, 80, a former Royal Marine, was attached to the SAS in the 1982 conflict. “Catching up time,” said Clifton, describing what he saw as belated toughness from London this week. But things remain precarious.

View image in fullscreen. Ricky Evans, who runs a guesthouse and other businesses, carries post and supplies for Pebble Island.

The Falkland Islands might be described as a British success story. Four decades ago, there were 1,800 inhabitants, and its tiny wool-based economy, 300 miles (480km) east of mainland South America, depended on UK government handouts. Today the population, growing at 3% a year in recent times, includes about 70 different nationalities, attracted by the 26% top rate of tax, good pay, and opportunities in a growing and entirely self-reliant economy. There are Zimbabweans who came to clear mines after the war. Construction workers from South Africa who came to rebuild. Chileans who found something they liked after taking a Latam Airlines flight. The largest minority group is the Filipinos, who came to work in social care and the service industry in the late 1980s and 90s.

View image in fullscreen. Chilean tourists pose for a photograph outside the Stanley post office.

Working behind the bar at Groovy’s, a Nepalese waiter said he had come from Dubai. The money was better in the Falklands, he said, and “the people are nicer.” “The locals start at Deano’s bar, then it’s the Victory bar and here—then it’s the Globe, for dancing,” he said with a smile. “After that they go to house parties.”

The Falklands have been so successful in attracting people that a permanent residency scheme, capped at 90 people a year, has been frozen for 12 months. The islands, for all their challenges, are somewhere people want to be.

View image in fullscreen. John Barton, chair of the Falkland Islands fishing companies association, and James Bates, the executive secretary.

All of this had been made possible because of squid, said John Barton, chair of the fishing companies association. “It has been transformational,” he said. In 1986, the UK allowed the Falklands to establish a 200-nautical-mile exclusive fishing zone in which anyone wanting to operate had to be licensed by the islands’ government. Licences sold to fleets of Spanish, Korean, and Taiwanese “jiggers” have delivered major revenues, but locals are increasingly running the vessels too. As a result, the islands’ gross domestic product per capita soared from about £2,000 in 1982 to £85,000 in 2025, putting the islands sixth in the world rankings, just behind Norway. The tourism industry is also going strong, with 75,000 or moreEvery year, people spill out of cruise ships at Stanley port, but that is at best a nice addition.

View image in fullscreenJames Wallace, who runs the Fortuna fishing company, onboard his harbour launch. Photograph: Sean Smith/The GuardianView image in fullscreenA worker packs filleted toothfish into plastic bags at a Falkland Islands processing factory.

James Wallace, 41, is chief executive of Fortuna, the largest fishing company on the island. It is a growing operation, which last year acquired Cornwall’s oldest fishing business, the Ocean Fish Group. But he is diversifying his business for a reason.

The squid populations in Falklands waters, on which his company and the islands rely, vary hugely, and it is clear that “catches are declining”, he said. “We have commissioned a bunch of inshore work to see what is happening, but the answer is that we don’t yet know,” he said. But there is another natural resource on which the islanders’ hopes are pinned.

View image in fullscreenA bust of Margaret Thatcher by the 1982 war memorial.

About 136 miles north of the Falkland Islands, work is continuing at pace on the Sea Lion oil project led by Israeli firm Navitas and its British partner, Rockhopper Exploration.

Independent estimates suggest the offshore oil field could triple the Falkland Islands’ GDP and deliver a Norway-style sovereign wealth fund. The companies involved remain confident that drilling will begin within months. A new jetty is busy with activity. But the impact of Argentinian pressure cannot be discounted. Two major contractors recently pulled out of the project.

View image in fullscreenChief executive of the Falklands government, Andrea Clausen, in the room where Argentinian forces surrendered.

Andrea Clausen, chief executive of the Falklands government and its top civil servant, works from a building on Thatcher Drive. Her office is opposite the room where Brig Gen Mario Menéndez signed Argentina’s letter of surrender on 14 June 1982. The letter remains on the wall.

Clausen was 10 at the time of the invasion and remembers the Argentinian soldiers’ arrival. She also recalls cowering with her family in their home in Goose Green, 60 miles west of Stanley, as the British Harrier jets came in with their cluster bombs. “Even now I struggle to cope with the sound of fast jets,” she said.

Clausen sees trauma throughout the islands. “I guess, some extreme behaviour,” she said. “Anger, aggression on certain political subjects.” She is evidently frustrated by the recent Argentinian actions.

“The Falklands has since [19]82 ensured that we are financially independent – save for defence,” she said. “We had no money in 82 and we never want to be in that position again.”

The oil is their insurance, she suggested. “I like to think that better people will de-escalate this because, honestly, we are 4,000 people minding our own business, we have a history deeper and older than theirs.”

View image in fullscreenFalkland Islands reserves (from left): Cpl Chris Stenning; Justin McPhee, director of emergency services; Lt Alastair Baylis; and warrant officer second class Paul Watson.

There are cycles to Argentinian bellicosity. The opportunistic but ill-fated invasion ordered by Argentina’s dictator General Leopoldo Galtieri, leading to the death of 649 Argentinians and 255 British military personnel, along with three islanders, has cast a pall over Argentinian-UK relations ever since.

But at times, notably in the 1990s, Buenos Aires adopted a hearts-and-minds approach to the islanders, sending videos of the animated series Pingu to their children. Such kindness has tended to evaporate, though, when an Argentinian government is losing public support at home, as Milei is experiencing now.

But if any one attribute sums up the islanders, it is resilience, said Dot Gould, an assembly member who owns Pebble, a 20-mile long island north-west of the Falklands. She and her husband share the island with a couple whoThey run a lodge, 5,000 sheep, 100 cattle, and a wealth of spectacular wildlife—but not much else.

Dot Gould, who owns Pebble Island, drives her 4×4 over the rolling terrain, dodging colonies of rockhopper and gentoo penguins. She points out the scattered wreckage of an Argentinian fighter jet and the graves of two airmen killed in battle. As a child on Pebble, she used to play with parachutes left behind by the Argentinians, using them as sails for a go-kart.

“I think since 1982 this is probably the most serious it’s been for us,” she said. “How effective they will be, we don’t know yet… it’s almost two fingers up: we’ll get on with it, we have to.” But there is much they want to do.

The islands depend on a limited range of freight links from the UK and South America for much of their fresh produce. Any disruption can cause peculiar shortages. There was a period without milk. A time without beer. During one cherry tomato shortage, when prices soared, the main supermarket chose to cut them in half and sell them that way to spread the joy.

A sorry-looking cabbage will set you back £8 at the West Store on the front. The local newspaper is the Penguin News (“This one’s not for Penguin News but…” is the traditional opener when sharing island gossip). But Facebook is the main means of communication. “Grown men and women use Snapchat like teenagers, often to arrange their extramarital affairs,” one local said.

Other peculiarities include the Falklands government paying for children from the age of 16 to complete their secondary and university education in the UK. The size of the islands’ population makes it impractical to offer such levels of education at home, said Sarah Stannard, the islands’ director of education. But if oil money comes in, she would rebuild the primary school. Children from the countryside—known locally as “camp”—are offered boarding in Stanley, although there are also peripatetic teachers and lessons by telephone.

Children grow up quickly here and tend to be eager to broaden their horizons. Oliver Lee, 15, was keen to join the merchant navy. “I would like to see other places,” he said. “The Mediterranean, hotter places basically.” Layla-May Vatemanu, 14, said: “A lot of the boys, especially in my class, do a lot of sport. Our friendship group doesn’t have a lot to do.”

There are no bus services anywhere, and the more distant parts of the islands are accessible only by boat or the Falkland government’s twin-engine aircraft service. On a landmass half the size of Wales, there is only one cashpoint.

They play touch rugby rather than full-contact rugby, partly because the islands’ hospital cannot handle complex injuries. Much of the health budget goes on medi-evacs to South America. Yet for all that, most children who leave at 16 do return.

All places are shaped by their history and geography, but some have more than others. “We are British with a twist,” said Stacy Bragger, a former journalist who represents the Stanley constituency in the assembly. “We have our own identity. If you were to ask what the traits of a Falkland Islander are—resourcefulness, resilience, making do. Because if something breaks you can’t just go down the road. You have to make do. That’s our version of Britishness.”

The islanders also have long memories. “I used to read the Guardian when I was a good deal younger,” said Mike Summers, 73, who sits on the board of the local chamber of commerce.Commerce. “But I stopped reading it in 1982 when [the editor] Peter Preston annoyed me so much. He was like: ‘Oh well, they’re a long way away and there are only a few of them – so why don’t we just sell them?'”

On Argentinian rhetoric, Summers added: “A lot of people still suffer from the effects of the war – PTSD among older people. I bumped into someone at the supermarket the other day who I’ve known forever. She said: ‘Oh, I’m wondering if I should sell my house and move away. The Argies are going to invade again.’ It seriously affects some people, and it’s cruel, actually.”

View image in fullscreenSocial influencer Roxy King-Clark at her home in Stanley.

Roxy King-Clarke, 40, describes herself as the Falklands’ biggest influencer, with about 60,000 followers. She gained a large following when she posted in response to the Argentinian men’s football team holding up a “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” [The Malvinas are Argentinian] banner at the World Cup.

She is regularly abused for her posts. “The most common insults are calling us pirates, usurpers and colonisers,” she said. “It’s bizarre to be on the receiving end of it all, because they talk as if we’ve just turned up here. I can trace my family back to my earliest ancestor arriving here in 1842.”

Her generation, she suggests, has also learned lessons from what happened four decades ago. King-Clarke said she would take a “hard line” to avoid any misinterpretation. “We need to learn from history,” she said, “and not make the same mistakes.”

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the article title 4000 people minding our own business four decades later the Falklands face a hostile Argentina once again

Beginner Questions

Q What are the Falkland Islands
A The Falkland Islands are a remote archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean They are a British Overseas Territory but Argentina claims sovereignty over them

Q Who lives on the Falkland Islands
A About 3000 to 4000 people live there mostly of British descent They are British citizens and want to remain part of the UK

Q What does 4000 people minding our own business mean
A It refers to the small population of the Falklands who just want to live peacefully without interference from Argentina or other countries

Q Why is Argentina described as hostile again
A Argentinas current government has renewed its demands for the islands and is taking a more aggressive diplomatic stance similar to the period before the 1982 war

Q What was the Falklands War
A In 1982 Argentina invaded the islands The UK sent a task force and retook them after a 74day conflict About 900 people died

Q Do the islanders want to join Argentina
A No In a 2013 referendum 998 voted to remain a British Overseas Territory

Intermediate Questions

Q Why does Argentina claim the Falklands
A Argentina argues it inherited the islands from Spain in the 1800s and that they are part of its territory The UK rejects this citing continuous administration and the islanders right to selfdetermination

Q What has changed in Argentinas approach recently
A Argentinas new president Javier Milei has promised to pursue sovereignty by all means His government has been more vocal and confrontational than his predecessors

Q What are the main practical problems for islanders today
A Limited flights no direct air link to Argentina economic pressure and uncertainty about future diplomatic tensions Argentina also restricts some trade and travel

Q How does the UK defend the islands now
A The UK maintains a military base with fighter jets troops and a patrol ship It also funds infrastructure and monitors Argentine

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