/* Varahi9 Media — public site. */

*,*::before,*::after{box-sizing:border-box}
html{scroll-behavior:smooth}
body{
  margin:0;background:var(--bg);color:var(--fg);
  font-family:var(--font-te);font-size:var(--fs-body);line-height:var(--lh-te);
  -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;text-rendering:optimizeLegibility;
}
:lang(en),.la{font-family:var(--font-la);line-height:var(--lh-la)}
img{max-width:100%;display:block}
a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}
button{font:inherit;color:inherit;background:none;border:0;cursor:pointer}
h1,h2,h3,h4{margin:0;line-height:var(--lh-head);font-weight:var(--fw-bold);
  letter-spacing:-.005em}

:focus-visible{outline:3px solid var(--v9-saffron);outline-offset:2px;border-radius:2px}
.sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;
  clip:rect(0 0 0 0);white-space:nowrap;border:0}
.skip{position:absolute;left:-9999px;top:0;z-index:999;background:var(--btn-bg);
  color:var(--btn-fg);padding:var(--s-3) var(--s-5);font-weight:var(--fw-semibold)}
.skip:focus{left:0}

.wrap{width:100%;max-width:var(--container);margin:0 auto;padding-inline:var(--gutter)}

/* ===== Utility bar ======================================================== */
.util{background:var(--bg-invert);color:var(--fg-inv);font-size:var(--fs-xs)}
.util__in{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-4);height:34px}
.util__date{opacity:.8}
.util__spacer{flex:1}
.util__link{opacity:.85;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:5px}
.util__link:hover{opacity:1;text-decoration:underline}
.util__sep{opacity:.3}
.chip{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:5px;height:20px;padding:0 var(--s-2);
  border-radius:var(--r-full);border:1px solid currentColor;font-size:11px;opacity:.9}

/* ===== Masthead ========================================================== */
.masthead{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--bg)}
.masthead__in{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-5);height:var(--header-h)}
.logo{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-3);flex:none}
/* The real brand mark replaced the "V9" gradient placeholder. No background and
   no radius: the artwork is a circular badge with its own transparent edge, so
   a rounded-square behind it would show as corners on the dark footer.
   width/height are also set as HTML attributes, so the box is reserved before
   the image decodes and the masthead cannot shift. */
.logo__img{width:42px;height:42px;object-fit:contain;display:block;flex:none}
.logo__img--sm{width:28px;height:28px}
.logo__text{line-height:1.1}
.logo__te{font-size:var(--fs-xl);font-weight:var(--fw-bold);letter-spacing:-.01em;display:block}
.logo__la{font-size:10px;letter-spacing:.18em;text-transform:uppercase;
  color:var(--fg-mute);font-family:var(--font-la);display:block;margin-top:2px}

.masthead__slot{flex:1;display:flex;justify-content:center}
/* Ad slots reserve their exact box BEFORE the creative loads. A slot that grows
   on load pushes the article a reader is part-way through — the precise defect
   measured on a competitor during the teardown (a vignette that reflowed the
   desktop grid down to a 769px layout). Height here is non-negotiable. */
.adslot{width:728px;height:90px;max-width:100%;background:var(--bg-sunken);
  border:1px dashed var(--line-strong);display:grid;place-items:center;
  color:var(--fg-mute);font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;
  font-family:var(--font-la);contain:strict}
.adslot--rect{width:300px;height:250px}
.adslot--leader-mobile{display:none}

.masthead__tools{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-2);flex:none}
.tool{width:38px;height:38px;border-radius:var(--r-md);display:grid;place-items:center;
  color:var(--fg-soft);transition:background var(--dur) var(--ease)}
.tool:hover{background:var(--hover);color:var(--fg)}
.btn-live{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;height:36px;padding:0 var(--s-4);
  border-radius:var(--r-full);background:var(--cat-live);color:var(--on-hot);
  font-weight:var(--fw-semibold);font-size:var(--fs-sm)}
.btn-live__dot{width:7px;height:7px;border-radius:50%;background:currentColor;
  animation:blink 1.4s steps(2,start) infinite}
@keyframes blink{50%{opacity:.25}}

/* ===== Primary nav ======================================================= */
.mainnav{background:var(--bg);border-bottom:2px solid var(--v9-saffron);
  position:sticky;top:0;z-index:50}
.mainnav__in{display:flex;align-items:stretch;gap:0;overflow-x:auto;
  scrollbar-width:none;-ms-overflow-style:none}
.mainnav__in::-webkit-scrollbar{display:none}
.navlink{display:flex;align-items:center;padding:0 var(--s-4);height:46px;
  font-size:var(--fs-md);font-weight:var(--fw-medium);color:var(--fg-soft);
  white-space:nowrap;border-bottom:3px solid transparent;margin-bottom:-2px;
  transition:color var(--dur) var(--ease)}
.navlink:hover{color:var(--fg);background:var(--hover)}
.navlink[aria-current="page"]{color:var(--v9-saffron-text);border-bottom-color:var(--v9-saffron);
  font-weight:var(--fw-semibold)}
/* Condensed sticky state: the masthead scrolls away, the nav stays, and a small
   logo appears inside it so the reader always knows whose site they are on. */
.mainnav__logo{display:none;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-2);padding-right:var(--s-4);
  border-right:1px solid var(--line);margin-right:var(--s-2);flex:none}
.mainnav.is-stuck .mainnav__logo{display:flex}
.mainnav.is-stuck{box-shadow:var(--shadow-md)}

/* ===== Ticker ============================================================ */
.ticker{background:var(--bg-alt);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);overflow:hidden}
.ticker__in{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-4);height:44px}
.ticker__label{flex:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;height:26px;
  padding:0 var(--s-3);background:var(--cat-live);color:var(--on-hot);border-radius:var(--r-sm);
  font-size:var(--fs-sm);font-weight:var(--fw-bold)}
.ticker__view{flex:1;overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:44px}
.ticker__track{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-8);height:44px;
  animation:marquee 48s linear infinite;width:max-content}
.ticker:hover .ticker__track,.ticker__track[data-paused="true"]{animation-play-state:paused}
@keyframes marquee{from{transform:translateX(0)}to{transform:translateX(-50%)}}
.ticker__item{font-size:var(--fs-md);white-space:nowrap;color:var(--fg-soft)}
.ticker__item:hover{color:var(--v9-saffron-text)}
.ticker__item::before{content:"\25CF";color:var(--v9-saffron);margin-right:8px;font-size:8px;
  vertical-align:middle}
.ticker__pause{flex:none;width:28px;height:28px;border-radius:var(--r-sm);
  display:grid;place-items:center;color:var(--fg-mute)}
.ticker__pause:hover{background:var(--hover);color:var(--fg)}

/* ===== Section heading =================================================== */
/* The coloured spine, lifted from the teardowns: it is the single cheapest
   device for making a long scrolling page navigable at a glance. */
.sec{margin-block:var(--s-12)}
.sec__head{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-3);margin-bottom:var(--s-5);
  padding-left:var(--s-3);border-left:4px solid var(--v9-saffron)}
.sec__title{font-size:var(--fs-2xl)}
.sec__more{margin-left:auto;font-size:var(--fs-sm);color:var(--v9-saffron-text);
  font-weight:var(--fw-semibold);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:4px}
.sec__more:hover{gap:8px}
.sec[data-cat="politics"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-politics)}
.sec[data-cat="ap"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-ap)}
.sec[data-cat="ts"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-ts)}
.sec[data-cat="cinema"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-cinema)}
.sec[data-cat="sports"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-sports)}
.sec[data-cat="business"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-business)}
.sec[data-cat="nri"] .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-nri)}
.sec[data-cat="politics"] .sec__more{color:var(--cat-politics)}
.sec[data-cat="cinema"] .sec__more{color:var(--cat-cinema)}
.sec[data-cat="sports"] .sec__more{color:var(--cat-sports)}
.sec[data-cat="nri"] .sec__more{color:var(--cat-nri)}

/* ===== Cards ============================================================= */
.kicker{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;font-size:var(--fs-xs);
  font-weight:var(--fw-bold);letter-spacing:.04em;color:var(--v9-saffron-text);
  text-transform:uppercase;font-family:var(--font-la)}
.kicker--te{font-family:var(--font-te);text-transform:none;letter-spacing:0;
  font-size:var(--fs-sm)}
.meta{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-2);font-size:var(--fs-xs);
  color:var(--fg-mute);flex-wrap:wrap}
.meta__dot::before{content:"\00b7";margin-right:var(--s-2)}

.thumb{position:relative;overflow:hidden;background:var(--bg-sunken);
  border-radius:var(--r-md)}
/* Every image box declares its ratio so nothing on this page moves after load.
   Cumulative layout shift on a news homepage is a reading-comprehension problem,
   not just a metric. */
.thumb::before{content:"";display:block;padding-top:56.25%}
.thumb > img,.thumb > .ph{position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover}
.thumb--sq::before{padding-top:100%}
.thumb--tall::before{padding-top:133%}
.ph{background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--bg-sunken),var(--line));
  display:grid;place-items:center;color:var(--fg-mute);font-size:var(--fs-sm)}
.thumb__badge{position:absolute;left:var(--s-2);top:var(--s-2);z-index:1;
  background:rgba(0,0,0,.72);color:#fff;font-size:11px;font-weight:var(--fw-semibold);
  padding:3px 8px;border-radius:var(--r-sm);backdrop-filter:blur(4px)}
.thumb__play{position:absolute;inset:0;display:grid;place-items:center;z-index:1}
.thumb__play span{width:52px;height:52px;border-radius:50%;background:rgba(0,0,0,.6);
  color:#fff;display:grid;place-items:center;font-size:18px;padding-left:4px;
  transition:transform var(--dur) var(--ease)}
.card:hover .thumb__play span{transform:scale(1.1);background:var(--cat-live)}

.card{display:block}
.card__title{font-size:var(--fs-lg);font-weight:var(--fw-semibold);margin:var(--s-3) 0 var(--s-2)}
.card:hover .card__title{color:var(--v9-saffron-text)}
.card__ex{font-size:var(--fs-md);color:var(--fg-soft);margin:0 0 var(--s-2)}

/* ---- Hero -------------------------------------------------------------- */
.hero{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.55fr) minmax(0,1fr);
  gap:var(--s-8);padding-block:var(--s-8);align-items:start}
.hero__lead .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-4xl);margin-top:var(--s-4);line-height:1.28}
.hero__lead .card__ex{font-size:var(--fs-lg)}
.hero__side{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:var(--s-5)}
.hero__side .card{display:grid;grid-template-columns:104px 1fr;gap:var(--s-3);
  padding-bottom:var(--s-5);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.hero__side .card:last-child{border-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0}
.hero__side .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-md);margin:0 0 var(--s-2);font-weight:var(--fw-semibold)}
.hero__side .thumb{border-radius:var(--r-sm)}

/* ---- Grids -------------------------------------------------------------- */
.g3{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,minmax(0,1fr));gap:var(--s-6)}
.g4{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,minmax(0,1fr));gap:var(--s-5)}
.g2{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:var(--s-6)}
.split{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 320px;gap:var(--s-10);
  align-items:start}

/* ---- River (latest) ----------------------------------------------------- */
.river{display:flex;flex-direction:column}
.river__item{display:grid;grid-template-columns:200px 1fr;gap:var(--s-5);
  padding-block:var(--s-5);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.river__item:first-child{padding-top:0}
.river__item .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-xl);margin-top:0}

/* ---- Rail --------------------------------------------------------------- */
.rail{position:sticky;top:calc(46px + var(--s-4));display:flex;flex-direction:column;
  gap:var(--s-8)}
.rail__box{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r-lg);overflow:hidden;
  background:var(--surface)}
.rail__head{padding:var(--s-3) var(--s-4);background:var(--bg-alt);
  border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);font-weight:var(--fw-bold);font-size:var(--fs-md)}
.rank{display:flex;gap:var(--s-3);padding:var(--s-3) var(--s-4);
  border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);align-items:flex-start}
.rank:last-child{border-bottom:0}
.rank__n{font-family:var(--font-la);font-size:var(--fs-2xl);font-weight:var(--fw-bold);
  color:var(--line-strong);line-height:1;flex:none;width:32px}
.rank:hover .rank__n{color:var(--v9-saffron-text)}
.rank__t{font-size:var(--fs-md);font-weight:var(--fw-medium)}

/* ===== Video carousel ==================================================== */
/* YouTube embeds, loaded on click. The iframe is NOT in the initial HTML: a page
   with six embedded players ships ~2MB of third-party script before the reader
   has asked for a single video. A poster image plus a click is both faster and
   better for privacy (youtube-nocookie, and nothing loads until consent-by-click). */
.vid{background:var(--bg-invert);color:var(--on-invert);padding-block:var(--s-12);
  margin-block:var(--s-16)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .vid{background:var(--bg-sunken)}
.vid .sec__head{border-left-color:var(--cat-live)}
.vid .sec__title{color:var(--on-invert)}
.vid .sec__more{color:var(--v9-gold)}
.carousel{position:relative}
.carousel__view{overflow:hidden}
.carousel__track{display:flex;gap:var(--s-5);transition:transform 420ms var(--ease)}
.carousel__track[data-nomotion="true"]{transition:none}
.slide{flex:0 0 calc((100% - var(--s-5) * 2) / 3);min-width:0}
.slide .card__title{color:var(--on-invert);font-size:var(--fs-md)}
.slide .meta{color:rgba(255,255,255,.55)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .slide .meta{color:var(--fg-mute)}
.carousel__btn{position:absolute;top:34%;width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;
  background:var(--bg);color:var(--fg);display:grid;place-items:center;
  box-shadow:var(--shadow-md);z-index:2;font-size:18px}
.carousel__btn:hover{background:var(--v9-saffron);color:#fff}
.carousel__btn:disabled{opacity:.35;cursor:not-allowed}
.carousel__btn--prev{left:calc(var(--s-6) * -1)}
.carousel__btn--next{right:calc(var(--s-6) * -1)}
.carousel__foot{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s-3);margin-top:var(--s-5)}
.carousel__dots{display:flex;gap:6px}
.dot{width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:rgba(255,255,255,.28)}
.dot[aria-current="true"]{background:var(--v9-gold);width:20px;border-radius:var(--r-full)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .dot{background:var(--line-strong)}
.carousel__pause{margin-left:auto;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;
  height:30px;padding:0 var(--s-3);border-radius:var(--r-full);
  border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28);color:var(--on-invert);font-size:var(--fs-sm)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .carousel__pause{border-color:var(--line-strong);color:var(--fg)}
.carousel__pause:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.1)}

/* ===== E-paper =========================================================== */
.epaper{background:var(--bg-alt);padding-block:var(--s-12)}
.epaper__in{display:grid;grid-template-columns:260px 1fr;gap:var(--s-10);align-items:center}
.epaper__cover{border:1px solid var(--line-strong);box-shadow:var(--shadow-lg);
  background:var(--bg)}
.epaper__eds{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s-2);margin-top:var(--s-4)}
.ed{padding:6px var(--s-3);border:1px solid var(--line-strong);border-radius:var(--r-full);
  font-size:var(--fs-sm);background:var(--bg)}
.ed:hover,.ed[aria-pressed="true"]{background:var(--btn-bg);color:var(--btn-fg);
  border-color:var(--btn-bg)}

/* ===== Newsletter ======================================================== */
.news{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r-lg);padding:var(--s-8);
  background:var(--bg-alt);display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 380px;
  gap:var(--s-8);align-items:center}
.news__form{display:flex;gap:var(--s-2)}
.inp{flex:1;height:46px;padding:0 var(--s-4);border:1px solid var(--line-strong);
  border-radius:var(--r-md);background:var(--bg);font-size:var(--fs-md);min-width:0}
.inp:focus{outline:none;border-color:var(--v9-saffron);box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(217,79,4,.15)}
.btn{height:46px;padding:0 var(--s-5);border-radius:var(--r-md);
  background:var(--btn-bg);color:var(--btn-fg);font-weight:var(--fw-semibold);
  font-size:var(--fs-md);white-space:nowrap}
.btn:hover{background:var(--v9-saffron-dark);color:#fff}
.news__note{font-size:var(--fs-xs);color:var(--fg-mute);margin-top:var(--s-3);
  line-height:1.6}
.news__msg{margin-top:var(--s-3);font-size:var(--fs-sm);display:none}
.news__msg[data-show="true"]{display:block}

/* ===== Footer ============================================================ */
.foot{background:var(--bg-invert);color:var(--fg-inv);padding-block:var(--s-12) var(--s-6);
  margin-top:var(--s-16)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .foot{background:var(--bg-sunken);color:var(--fg)}
.foot__grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:2fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;gap:var(--s-8);
  padding-bottom:var(--s-10);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14)}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .foot__grid{border-bottom-color:var(--line)}
.foot h3{font-size:var(--fs-sm);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.1em;
  opacity:.6;margin-bottom:var(--s-4);font-family:var(--font-la);font-weight:var(--fw-semibold)}
.foot ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:var(--s-2)}
.foot a{opacity:.85;font-size:var(--fs-md)}
.foot a:hover{opacity:1;text-decoration:underline}
.foot__about{font-size:var(--fs-md);opacity:.75;max-width:46ch;margin:var(--s-4) 0 0}
/* The grievance officer block is a statutory requirement under IT Rules 2021,
   not a nicety. It carries a name, an address and a response window. */
.foot__legal{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s-4);padding-top:var(--s-5);
  font-size:var(--fs-xs);opacity:.65;align-items:center}
.foot__legal .util__spacer{flex:1}
.grievance{margin-top:var(--s-5);padding:var(--s-4);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.18);
  border-radius:var(--r-md);font-size:var(--fs-sm);opacity:.9;line-height:1.7}
:root[data-theme="dark"] .grievance{border-color:var(--line)}
.grievance b{display:block;font-size:var(--fs-xs);text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.1em;opacity:.6;margin-bottom:var(--s-2);font-family:var(--font-la)}

/* ===== Responsive ======================================================== */
@media (max-width:1100px){
  .hero{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s-6)}
  .hero__lead .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-3xl)}
  .split{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s-10)}
  .rail{position:static}
  .g4{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}
  .slide{flex-basis:calc((100% - var(--s-5)) / 2)}
  .epaper__in{grid-template-columns:200px 1fr;gap:var(--s-6)}
  .news{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s-5)}
  .foot__grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:var(--s-6)}
  .masthead__slot{display:none}
}
@media (max-width:720px){
  :root{--fs-body:16px;--gutter:16px}
  /* The utility bar has more links than a 375px screen can hold. Rather than
     wrapping them into an unreadable two-line stack, it scrolls horizontally
     and each item is kept on one line. */
  .util__in{overflow-x:auto;scrollbar-width:none;gap:var(--s-3)}
  .util__in::-webkit-scrollbar{display:none}
  .util__date,.util__link,.chip{white-space:nowrap;flex:none}
  .util__spacer{display:none}
  .masthead__in{height:56px}
  .logo__img{width:36px;height:36px}
  .logo__te{font-size:var(--fs-lg)}
  .g3,.g2{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s-6)}
  .g4{grid-template-columns:1fr}
  .slide{flex-basis:100%}
  .carousel__btn--prev{left:var(--s-2)}
  .carousel__btn--next{right:var(--s-2)}
  .river__item{grid-template-columns:120px 1fr;gap:var(--s-3)}
  .river__item .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-md)}
  .river__item .card__ex{display:none}
  .hero__lead .card__title{font-size:var(--fs-2xl)}
  .hero__side .card{grid-template-columns:88px 1fr}
  .epaper__in{grid-template-columns:1fr}
  .epaper__cover{max-width:220px}
  .foot__grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}
  .adslot{width:100%;height:100px}
  .btn-live span:not(.btn-live__dot){display:none}
  .news__form{flex-direction:column}
  .btn{width:100%}
}