:root {
        --paper: #fbfaf6;
        --surface: #ffffff;
        --ink: #191919;
        --ink-soft: #44423c;
        --muted: #767268;
        --line: #ddd8cc;
        --line-strong: #191919;
        --accent: #8c1d2f;
        --accent-soft: #f6e9eb;
        --navy: #16324f;
        --ad-bg: #f1efe8;
        --chip: #efece3;
        color-scheme: light;
      }
      @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
        :root {
          --paper: #131417;
          --surface: #1b1d21;
          --ink: #ece9e2;
          --ink-soft: #c9c5ba;
          --muted: #9b968a;
          --line: #33363c;
          --line-strong: #ece9e2;
          --accent: #e08a97;
          --accent-soft: #332227;
          --navy: #9db8d2;
          --ad-bg: #1e2024;
          --chip: #26282d;
          color-scheme: dark;
        }
      }
      * { box-sizing: border-box; }
      html { -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; }
      body {
        margin: 0;
        background: var(--paper);
        color: var(--ink);
        font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;
        font-size: 16px;
        line-height: 1.5;
      }
      a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
      a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
      img { display: block; max-width: 100%; }
      .wrap { max-width: 1180px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 16px; }

      /* ---------- Masthead ---------- */
      .topbar {
        display: flex; justify-content: space-between; gap: 12px; flex-wrap: wrap;
        padding: 10px 0 8px; font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--muted);
        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
      }
      .masthead { text-align: center; padding: 18px 0 14px; }
      .masthead .brand {
        font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;
        font-size: clamp(34px, 6.5vw, 58px);
        font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 1.05; margin: 0;
      }
      .masthead .brand span { color: var(--accent); }
      .masthead .tagline {
        margin: 8px 0 0; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 2.2px;
        text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--muted);
      }
      .masthead-rule { border-top: 3px solid var(--line-strong); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line-strong); height: 5px; }

      /* ---------- Nav ---------- */
      .navbar {
        position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 50;
        background: var(--paper);
        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
      }
      .navbar .wrap { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; }
      .navlinks { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; }
      .navlinks a {
        padding: 12px 13px; font-size: 14.5px; font-weight: 600;
        border-bottom: 3px solid transparent;
      }
      .navlinks a:hover { text-decoration: none; color: var(--accent); }
      .navlinks a.active { border-bottom-color: var(--accent); color: var(--accent); }
      .searchbox { margin-left: auto; display: flex; align-items: center; padding: 6px 0; }
      .searchbox input {
        width: 150px; padding: 7px 10px; font-size: 14px;
        border: 1px solid var(--line); border-radius: 3px 0 0 3px;
        background: var(--surface); color: var(--ink);
      }
      .searchbox button {
        padding: 7px 12px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer;
        border: 1px solid var(--line-strong); border-left: 0; border-radius: 0 3px 3px 0;
        background: var(--line-strong); color: var(--paper);
      }

      /* ---------- Ad slots ---------- */
      .ad-slot {
        margin: 18px auto; text-align: center;
        background: var(--ad-bg); border: 1px dashed var(--muted);
        color: var(--muted); display: flex; flex-direction: column;
        align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 2px;
      }
      .ad-slot .ad-label { font-size: 10.5px; letter-spacing: 2.5px; text-transform: uppercase; }
      .ad-slot .ad-note { font-size: 12px; }
      .ad-leaderboard { max-width: 970px; min-height: 110px; padding: 14px; }
      .ad-rectangle { min-height: 260px; padding: 14px; margin: 0 0 24px; }

      /* ---------- Layout ---------- */
      .home-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0,1fr) 320px; gap: 28px; margin-top: 6px; }
      .section-head {
        display: flex; align-items: baseline; justify-content: space-between;
        border-top: 2.5px solid var(--line-strong); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
        padding: 8px 0 7px; margin: 30px 0 16px;
      }
      .section-head h2 {
        font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21px; margin: 0;
      }
      .section-head a { font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--accent); }

      .kicker {
        font-size: 11.5px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.6px;
        text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--accent); margin: 0 0 7px;
      }
      .kicker a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
      .headline { font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.18; margin: 0; }
      .deck { color: var(--ink-soft); margin: 8px 0 0; }
      .byline { font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--muted); margin-top: 9px; }
      .byline b { color: var(--ink-soft); font-weight: 600; }
      .figcap { font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); padding: 6px 0 0; }

      /* Hero */
      .hero { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); padding-bottom: 22px; }
      .hero img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 21/9; object-fit: cover; }
      .hero .headline { font-size: clamp(27px, 4.2vw, 40px); margin-top: 14px; }
      .hero .deck { font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 1.55; }

      /* Cards */
      .cards { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 22px; }
      .card img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16/10; object-fit: cover; margin-bottom: 10px; }
      .card .headline { font-size: 18.5px; }
      .card .deck { font-size: 14px; display: -webkit-box; -webkit-line-clamp: 3; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; overflow: hidden; }

      .cat-layout { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.5fr 1fr; gap: 24px; }
      .cat-lead img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-fit: cover; margin-bottom: 10px; }
      .cat-lead .headline { font-size: 23px; }
      .story-list { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
      .story-list li { padding: 11px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); display: flex; gap: 12px; }
      .story-list li:first-child { padding-top: 0; }
      .story-list img { width: 104px; height: 70px; object-fit: cover; flex: none; }
      .story-list .headline { font-size: 16px; }

      /* Sidebar */
      .rail-box { border: 1px solid var(--line); background: var(--surface); padding: 16px 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; }
      .rail-box h3 {
        font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0 0 6px;
        padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--line-strong);
      }
      .trend-list { list-style: none; counter-reset: trend; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
      .trend-list li { counter-increment: trend; padding: 11px 0 11px 40px; position: relative; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); }
      .trend-list li:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
      .trend-list li::before {
        content: counter(trend); position: absolute; left: 0; top: 8px;
        font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--accent);
      }
      .trend-list .headline { font-size: 15.5px; }
      .trend-list .byline { margin-top: 4px; font-size: 11.5px; }

      /* Article page */
      .article { max-width: 760px; margin: 8px auto 0; }
      .article .headline { font-size: clamp(28px, 4.6vw, 42px); }
      .article .deck { font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.55; }
      .article-meta {
        display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 6px 18px; align-items: center;
        border-top: 1px solid var(--line); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
        padding: 10px 0; margin: 16px 0 20px; font-size: 13.5px; color: var(--muted);
      }
      .article-meta b { color: var(--ink); }
      .article figure { margin: 0 0 22px; }
      .article figure img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-fit: cover; }
      .article-body p {
        font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;
        font-size: 18.5px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0 0 20px; color: var(--ink);
      }
      .article-body p:first-of-type::first-letter {
        font-size: 52px; line-height: 0.85; float: left; padding: 5px 10px 0 0; font-weight: 700;
      }
      .article-body h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21px; margin: 28px 0 12px; }
      .backlink { font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--accent); display: inline-block; margin: 4px 0 14px; }
      .related { max-width: 1180px; margin: 10px auto 0; }

      /* Static pages */
      .page { max-width: 760px; margin: 10px auto 0; }
      .page h1 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 34px; margin: 0 0 6px; }
      .page .page-body p, .page .page-body li { font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 1.7; color: var(--ink-soft); }
      .page .page-body h2 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21px; color: var(--ink); margin: 26px 0 8px; }
      .page .page-body a { color: var(--accent); font-weight: 600; }

      /* Footer */
      footer { margin-top: 48px; border-top: 3px solid var(--line-strong); background: var(--surface); }
      .footer-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 2fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 28px; padding: 30px 0 8px; }
      .footer-grid h4 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px; }
      .footer-grid ul { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
      .footer-grid li { margin: 7px 0; font-size: 14px; }
      .footer-brand { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; }
      .footer-brand span { color: var(--accent); }
      .footer-note { font-size: 13.5px; color: var(--muted); line-height: 1.6; max-width: 46ch; }
      .footer-legal {
        border-top: 1px solid var(--line); margin-top: 18px; padding: 14px 0 22px;
        font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--muted); display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 6px 22px; justify-content: space-between;
      }
      .empty-note { padding: 34px 0; font-size: 16px; color: var(--muted); }
      .view { display: none; }
      .view.on { display: block; }

      /* ---------- VIP premium layer ---------- */
      :root {
        --cat-politics: #9d2235;
        --cat-business: #17604a;
        --cat-technology: #1f4e79;
        --cat-world: #8a6414;
        --cat-us: #16324f;
        --cat-entertainment: #7b2d8e;
        --cat-blog: #6b5d3f;
      }
      @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
        :root {
          --cat-politics: #e08a97;
          --cat-business: #6fc7a5;
          --cat-technology: #8db8dd;
          --cat-world: #dcb25e;
          --cat-us: #9db8d2;
          --cat-entertainment: #c99ad6;
          --cat-blog: #cbb98a;
        }
      }
      .kicker[data-cat="politics"] { color: var(--cat-politics); }
      .kicker[data-cat="business"] { color: var(--cat-business); }
      .kicker[data-cat="technology"] { color: var(--cat-technology); }
      .kicker[data-cat="world"] { color: var(--cat-world); }
      .kicker[data-cat="us"] { color: var(--cat-us); }
      .section-head h2 .cat-dot { color: var(--accent); }

      .site-head { background: #10151d; color: #f2efe8; }
      .site-head .topbar { border-bottom-color: #2b313b; color: #a7adb6; }
      .site-head .masthead { padding: 22px 0 18px; }
      .site-head .masthead .brand { color: #ffffff; letter-spacing: -1px; }
      .site-head .masthead .brand span { color: #e2543e; }
      .site-head .masthead .tagline { color: #a7adb6; }
      .site-head .masthead a:hover { text-decoration: none; }

      .ticker { background: #8c1d2f; color: #fff; }
      .ticker-in { display: flex; align-items: stretch; gap: 0; padding: 0 16px; }
      .ticker-label {
        flex: none; display: flex; align-items: center; padding: 8px 14px 8px 0;
        font-size: 12px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;
      }
      .ticker-label::before {
        content: ""; width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%;
        background: #fff; margin-right: 9px; animation: pulse 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
      }
      @keyframes pulse { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.25; } }
      .ticker-view { overflow: hidden; flex: 1; display: flex; align-items: center; min-height: 37px; }
      .ticker-track { display: block; width: 100%; }
      .ticker-item { display: none; color: #fff; font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: 600; padding: 9px 0; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
      .ticker-item.on { display: block; animation: fadein 0.45s ease; }
      .ticker-item:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
      @keyframes fadein { from { opacity: 0; } to { opacity: 1; } }
      @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
        .ticker-item.on { animation: none; }
        .ticker-label::before { animation: none; }
      }

      .latest-panel { border: 1px solid var(--line); background: var(--surface); margin: 4px 0 26px; }
      .latest-head {
        display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px;
        padding: 11px 16px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--line-strong);
      }
      .latest-head h2 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; margin: 0; }
      .live-dot { width: 9px; height: 9px; border-radius: 50%; background: #c0272d; animation: pulse 1.6s ease-in-out infinite; flex: none; }
      @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .live-dot { animation: none; } }
      .latest-head .live-note { margin-left: auto; font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); }
      .latest-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.25fr 1fr; }
      .latest-feature { padding: 16px; border-right: 1px solid var(--line); }
      .latest-feature img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-fit: cover; margin-bottom: 11px; }
      .latest-feature .headline { font-size: 22px; }
      .latest-list { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 6px 16px; }
      .latest-list li { padding: 10px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); display: flex; gap: 12px; align-items: baseline; }
      .latest-list li:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
      .time-badge {
        flex: none; font-size: 11.5px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--accent);
        border: 1px solid currentColor; border-radius: 3px; padding: 1px 6px; white-space: nowrap;
      }
      .latest-list .headline { font-size: 15.5px; }
      .article-meta .time-badge { font-size: 12px; }
      @media (max-width: 760px) {
        .latest-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
        .latest-feature { border-right: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); }
      }

      /* ---------- Premium polish (CSS only, no assets) ---------- */
      .site-head .topbar { letter-spacing: 0.4px; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 11.5px; }
      .headline a { transition: color 0.15s ease; }
      .headline a:hover { color: var(--accent); text-decoration: none; }
      .card > a:first-child, .cat-lead > a:first-child, .hero > a:first-child, .latest-feature > a:first-child {
        display: block; overflow: hidden;
      }
      .card img, .cat-lead img, .hero img, .latest-feature img { transition: transform 0.4s ease; }
      .card:hover img, .cat-lead:hover img, .hero:hover img, .latest-feature:hover img { transform: scale(1.035); }
      .story-list .headline a:hover, .trend-list .headline a:hover, .latest-list .headline a:hover { color: var(--accent); text-decoration: none; }
      .byline b { text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.4px; font-size: 0.92em; }
      .section-head[data-cat="politics"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-politics); }
      .section-head[data-cat="business"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-business); }
      .section-head[data-cat="technology"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-technology); }
      .section-head[data-cat="world"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-world); }
      .section-head[data-cat="us"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-us); }
      .section-head h2 { letter-spacing: -0.2px; }
      .hero .headline { letter-spacing: -0.6px; }
      .article .headline { letter-spacing: -0.5px; }
      .navlinks a { transition: color 0.15s ease, border-color 0.15s ease; }
      .rail-box { box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(20, 20, 20, 0.05); }
      .latest-panel { box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(20, 20, 20, 0.07); }
      .searchbox input:focus { outline: 2px solid var(--accent); outline-offset: 0; }
      footer { background: #10151d; color: #e8e5de; border-top: none; }
      footer .footer-brand { color: #ffffff; }
      footer .footer-brand span { color: #e2543e; }
      footer .footer-note { color: #a7adb6; }
      footer .footer-grid h4 { color: #ffffff; }
      footer .footer-grid a { color: #d8d5cd; }
      footer .footer-grid a:hover { color: #ffffff; }
      footer .footer-legal { border-top-color: #2b313b; color: #a7adb6; }
      @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
        .card img, .cat-lead img, .hero img, .latest-feature img { transition: none; }
        .card:hover img, .cat-lead:hover img, .hero:hover img, .latest-feature:hover img { transform: none; }
      }

      @media (max-width: 900px) {
        .home-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
        .cards { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
        .cat-layout { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
        .footer-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }
      }
      @media (max-width: 560px) {
        .cards { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
        .hero img { aspect-ratio: 16/10; }
        .searchbox input { width: 104px; }
        .navlinks a { padding: 11px 8px; font-size: 13.5px; }
        .article-body p { font-size: 17.5px; }
        .footer-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
      }
    
      /* ---------- Added for expanded site ---------- */
      .kicker[data-cat="entertainment"] { color: var(--cat-entertainment); }
      .kicker[data-cat="blog"] { color: var(--cat-blog); }
      .section-head[data-cat="entertainment"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-entertainment); }
      .section-head[data-cat="blog"] { border-top-color: var(--cat-blog); }
      .video-embed { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 24px 0; background: #000; }
      .video-embed iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0; }
      .source-line { font-size: 13px; color: var(--muted); border-top: 1px solid var(--line); padding-top: 12px; margin-top: 28px; }
      .source-line a { text-decoration: underline; }