'post', 'paged' => $paged, 'meta_query' => array( array( 'key' => '_is_featured', // Custom field key for featured posts 'value' => '1', // Value to indicate a featured post 'compare' => '=', // Compare for equality 'type' => 'NUMERIC' // Ensure numeric comparison ) ) ); // Check if it's the first page $is_first_page = ($paged == 1); // If it's the first page, fetch featured posts and display carousel if ($is_first_page) { $query = new WP_Query($query_args); // Check if there are any featured posts if ($query->have_posts()) : ?>