.carousel {
      position: relative;
      overflow: hidden;
      background: var(--bg);
      border: 1px solid #3a3b3a;
      border-radius: 8px;
      width: 90vw;
      max-width: 900px;
      height: 320px; /* fixed height */
      text-align: center;
    }

    .carousel-track {
      display: flex;
      height: 100%;
      transition: transform 0.6s ease;
    }

    .carousel-slide {
      flex: 0 0 auto;
      height: 100%;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      background: var(--bg);
      text-align: center;
    }

    .carousel-slide img {
      height: 100%;      /* same height */
      width: auto;       /* native width */
      display: block;
    }

    .carousel-btn {
      position: absolute;
      top: 50%;
      transform: translateY(-50%);
      background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
      border: none;
      color: var(--accent);
      width: 36px;
      height: 36px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 18px;
    }

    .carousel-btn:hover {
      background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
    }

    .carousel-btn.prev {
      left: 10px;
    }

    .carousel-btn.next {
      right: 10px;
    }

    .carousel-dots {
      position: absolute;
      bottom: 10px;
      left: 50%;
      transform: translateX(-50%);
      display: flex;
      gap: 6px;
    }

    .carousel-dot {
      width: 8px;
      height: 8px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      background: #555;
      cursor: pointer;
    }

    .carousel-dot.active {
      background: var(--accent);
    }

    .news-box {
  max-width: 80%;
  background: #303130;          /* slightly lighter than #262726 for contrast */
text-align: center;
  border-left: 4px solid #ffffff33; /* subtle accent bar */
  border-radius: 6px;
  color: #ffffff;
  line-height: 1.55;
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);
}

.news-box strong {
  color: #ffffff;
  font-weight: 600;
}