.ix-hero, .ix-deck {
    --ix-accent: #FF9A3D;
    --ix-accent-dark: #9a4a08;   
    --ix-pad: clamp(20px, 5vw, 72px);
    --ix-display: 'League Spartan', sans-serif;
    --ix-body: 'Inter', sans-serif;
    position: relative; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--ix-body);
}
.ix-hero *, .ix-deck * { box-sizing: border-box; }
.ix-hero :where(h1, h2, h3, p, ul, figure), .ix-deck :where(h1, h2, h3, p, ul, figure) { margin: 0; padding: 0; }
.ix-hero ul, .ix-deck ul { list-style: none; }

.ix-hero {
    --x: 70%; --y: 30%;
    display: flex; flex-direction: column;
    min-height: 100vh; min-height: 100svh;
    padding: clamp(104px, 15vh, 140px) 0 0;
    color: #fff; overflow: hidden; isolation: isolate;
    background:
        radial-gradient(520px circle at var(--x) var(--y), rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.16), rgba(255, 154, 61, 0) 70%),
        repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 0 55px, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05) 55px 56px),
        #070708;
}

.ix-hero::before {
    content: ""; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: calc(var(--ix-pad) + clamp(60px, 8vw, 130px)); width: 1px; z-index: -1;
    background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0), rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.45) 20%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.45) 80%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0));
}
.ix-crumb { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: 10px; padding: 0 var(--ix-pad); font-size: 0.82rem; color: #cfcfd4; }
.ix-crumb a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s; }
.ix-crumb a:hover, .ix-crumb a:focus-visible { color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-crumb span[aria-hidden] { color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-crumb [aria-current] { color: #fff; }

.ix-hero__main { flex: 1; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; padding: clamp(32px, 6vh, 64px) var(--ix-pad) clamp(40px, 7vh, 72px) calc(var(--ix-pad) + clamp(84px, 10vw, 160px)); }
.ix-eyebrow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; font-family: var(--ix-body); font-size: 0.78rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 4px; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-eyebrow::before { content: ""; width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-eyebrow small { font-size: inherit; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 2px; color: #9ea0a8; }
.ix-hero .ix-title {
    max-width: 13.5em; margin-top: 0.45em;
    font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: clamp(2.5rem, 6.3vw, 6.6rem); font-weight: 800; line-height: 0.98; letter-spacing: -0.03em; color: #fff;
}
.ix-title em { font-style: italic; color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-title .ix-word { display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding: 0 0.04em 0.12em 0; margin-bottom: -0.12em; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap; }
.ix-title .ix-char { display: inline-block; }
.ix-hero__row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: 18px 36px; margin-top: clamp(26px, 4.5vh, 44px); }
.ix-hero__row p { max-width: 30em; font-size: clamp(1rem, 1.2vw, 1.15rem); line-height: 1.6; color: #cfcfd4; }
.ix-cue {
    display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; padding: 14px 26px; border-radius: 50px;
    background: var(--ix-accent); color: #000; text-decoration: none;
    font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; transition: background-color 0.3s, transform 0.3s;
}
.ix-cue:hover, .ix-cue:focus-visible { background: #fff; transform: translateY(-2px); }
.ix-cue:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--ix-accent); outline-offset: 4px; }

.ix-ticker { position: relative; border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.14); background: rgba(5, 5, 5, 0.7); overflow: hidden; }
.ix-ticker::before, .ix-ticker::after { content: ""; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 80px; z-index: 1; pointer-events: none; }
.ix-ticker::before { left: 0; background: linear-gradient(90deg, #070708, rgba(7, 7, 7, 0)); }
.ix-ticker::after { right: 0; background: linear-gradient(-90deg, #070708, rgba(7, 7, 7, 0)); }
.ix-ticker__track { display: flex; width: max-content; }
.ix-ticker__track li { flex: none; }
.ix-ticker__track a {
    display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; padding: clamp(18px, 3vh, 26px) clamp(22px, 2.6vw, 40px);
    border-right: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1); color: #f4f4f0; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;
    font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: clamp(1rem, 1.35vw, 1.3rem); font-weight: 600; transition: color 0.3s;
}
.ix-ticker__track a span { font-family: var(--ix-body); font-size: 0.68rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-ticker__track a:hover, .ix-ticker__track a:focus-visible { color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-ticker__track a:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--ix-accent); outline-offset: -4px; }
html.ix-motion .ix-ticker__track { animation: ixTicker 55s linear infinite; }
html.ix-motion .ix-ticker:hover .ix-ticker__track, html.ix-motion .ix-ticker:focus-within .ix-ticker__track { animation-play-state: paused; }
@keyframes ixTicker { to { transform: translateX(-50%); } }

html:not(.ix-motion) .ix-ticker { overflow-x: auto; }

.ix-deck { padding: clamp(80px, 13vh, 150px) var(--ix-pad); background: #e6e6e6; color: #0b0b0c; overflow: hidden; }
.ix-deck__grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 0.9fr) minmax(0, 1.1fr); gap: clamp(40px, 6vw, 110px); align-items: center; max-width: 1440px; margin: 0 auto; }
.ix-deck .ix-eyebrow { color: var(--ix-accent-dark); }
.ix-deck .ix-eyebrow::before { background: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-deck__lead { margin-top: 22px !important; font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: clamp(1.6rem, 2.7vw, 2.7rem); font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; letter-spacing: -0.015em; color: #0b0b0c; }
.ix-deck__lead mark {
    color: inherit; padding: 0 0.08em; border-radius: 2px;
    background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0) 52%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.75) 52%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.75) 92%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0) 92%) no-repeat 0 0 / 100% 100%;
    -webkit-box-decoration-break: clone; box-decoration-break: clone;
    transition: background-size 0.7s cubic-bezier(0.6, 0, 0.2, 1);
}
html.ix-motion .ix-deck__lead mark { background-size: 0% 100%; }
html.ix-motion .ix-deck__lead mark.is-on { background-size: 100% 100%; }

.ix-topics { margin-top: clamp(32px, 5vh, 48px) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18); }
.ix-topics li { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: baseline; gap: 16px; padding: 13px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18); font-size: 0.98rem; color: #1d1d21; }
.ix-topics b { font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ix-accent-dark); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
.ix-link { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; margin-top: 26px; font-size: 0.78rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ix-accent-dark); text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(154, 74, 8, 0.45); padding-bottom: 4px; }
.ix-link:hover, .ix-link:focus-visible { color: #0b0b0c; border-color: #0b0b0c; }
.ix-link:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--ix-accent-dark); outline-offset: 4px; }

.ix-cards { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: clamp(14px, 1.6vw, 22px); }
.ix-card {
    position: relative; display: flex; flex-direction: column; overflow: hidden;
    border-radius: 14px; background: #fff; color: #0b0b0c; text-decoration: none;
    box-shadow: 0 18px 40px -22px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.45); transition: box-shadow 0.4s, translate 0.4s;
}
.ix-card:hover, .ix-card:focus-visible { translate: 0 -6px; box-shadow: 0 28px 50px -24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55); }
.ix-card:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--ix-accent-dark); outline-offset: 4px; }
.ix-card img { display: block; width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 10; object-fit: cover; background: #d4d4d6; }
.ix-card__body { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 8px; flex: 1; padding: clamp(14px, 1.4vw, 20px); }
.ix-card__cat { font-size: 0.68rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ix-accent-dark); }
.ix-card h3 { font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: clamp(1rem, 1.25vw, 1.2rem); font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.2; color: #0b0b0c; }
.ix-card__more { margin-top: auto; padding-top: 8px; font-size: 0.72rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #3d3d43; }
.ix-card:hover .ix-card__more { color: var(--ix-accent-dark); }

@media (max-width: 1000px) {
    .ix-deck__grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
    .ix-hero__main { padding-left: calc(var(--ix-pad) + 40px); }
    .ix-hero::before { left: calc(var(--ix-pad) + 20px); }
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
    .ix-hero__main { padding-left: var(--ix-pad); }
    .ix-hero::before { display: none; }
    .ix-cards { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
    .ix-card { flex-direction: row; }
    .ix-card img { flex: none; width: 38%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: auto; align-self: stretch; }
}

/* ---- Hero redesign (20 Oct 2026): no ruled lines; a slow amber glow, a faint dot field, and the live articles as floating cards ---- */
.ix-hero { background: #070708; }
.ix-hero::before {
    content: ""; position: absolute; inset: -25%; left: -25%; width: auto; top: -25%; bottom: -25%; z-index: -2; pointer-events: none;
    background:
        radial-gradient(38% 34% at 72% 34%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.24), rgba(255, 154, 61, 0) 70%),
        radial-gradient(30% 30% at 18% 78%, rgba(154, 74, 8, 0.28), rgba(154, 74, 8, 0) 70%),
        radial-gradient(26% 24% at 92% 88%, rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.10), rgba(255, 154, 61, 0) 70%);
}
html.ix-motion .ix-hero::before { animation: ixAurora 22s ease-in-out infinite alternate; }
@keyframes ixAurora {
    0% { transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0) scale(1); }
    50% { transform: translate3d(-4%, 3%, 0) scale(1.08); }
    100% { transform: translate3d(3%, -2%, 0) scale(1.03); }
}
.ix-hero::after {
    content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: -1; pointer-events: none;
    background-image: radial-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09) 1px, transparent 1.2px);
    background-size: 28px 28px;
    -webkit-mask-image: radial-gradient(70% 70% at 62% 42%, #000 20%, transparent 75%);
            mask-image: radial-gradient(70% 70% at 62% 42%, #000 20%, transparent 75%);
}
.ix-hero__main {
    display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1.35fr) minmax(0, 0.85fr); align-items: center; gap: clamp(32px, 5vw, 90px);
    padding-left: var(--ix-pad);
    max-width: 1500px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;
}
.ix-hero .ix-title { font-size: clamp(2.5rem, 5.2vw, 5.6rem); }
.ix-stack { position: relative; height: clamp(320px, 34vw, 420px); }
.ix-float {
    position: absolute; width: 86%; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 12px;
    padding: clamp(18px, 1.8vw, 26px); border-radius: 18px;
    background: rgba(22, 22, 25, 0.72); border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
    -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(12px); backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
    box-shadow: 0 30px 60px -30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
    color: #fff; text-decoration: none;
    transition: transform 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1), border-color 0.4s, box-shadow 0.4s;
}
.ix-float::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 22px; bottom: 22px; width: 3px; border-radius: 0 3px 3px 0; background: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-float--a { top: 0; right: 0; transform: rotate(-3deg); }
.ix-float--b { bottom: 0; left: 0; transform: rotate(2.5deg); }
.ix-float:hover, .ix-float:focus-visible { transform: rotate(0deg) translateY(-6px); border-color: rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.6); box-shadow: 0 36px 70px -30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95), 0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 154, 61, 0.25); z-index: 2; }
.ix-float:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--ix-accent); outline-offset: 4px; }
.ix-float__cat { font-size: 0.72rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ix-accent); }
.ix-float__title { font-family: var(--ix-display); font-size: clamp(1.15rem, 1.5vw, 1.5rem); font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.18; letter-spacing: -0.01em; }
.ix-float__meta { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #9ea0a8; }
.ix-float__meta span { color: var(--ix-accent); font-size: 1.1rem; transition: transform 0.3s; }
.ix-float:hover .ix-float__meta span { transform: translateX(6px); }
html.ix-motion .ix-float--a { animation: ixFloatA 7s ease-in-out infinite; }
html.ix-motion .ix-float--b { animation: ixFloatB 8s ease-in-out infinite; }
html.ix-motion .ix-float:hover, html.ix-motion .ix-float:focus-visible { animation-play-state: paused; }
@keyframes ixFloatA { 0%, 100% { translate: 0 0; } 50% { translate: 0 -10px; } }
@keyframes ixFloatB { 0%, 100% { translate: 0 0; } 50% { translate: 0 8px; } }
@media (max-width: 1000px) {
    .ix-hero__main { grid-template-columns: 1fr; padding-left: var(--ix-pad); }
    .ix-stack { display: none; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .ix-hero::before, .ix-float { animation: none !important; } }
@media (max-width: 600px) { .ix-hero::before { display: block; } }
/* Touch screens: solid cards instead of a live blur */
@media (hover: none) and (pointer: coarse) {
    .ix-float { -webkit-backdrop-filter: none; backdrop-filter: none; background: rgba(22, 22, 25, 0.94); }
}