- FIFA claim Club World Cup schedule 'harmonious' as legal threat looms
- Kohli knock keeps Bengaluru in the hunt
- NBA bans Bucks guard Beverley four games for tossing balls at fans
- Wimbledon chiefs say more of planned expansion will be public parkland
- Argentina's Milei faces 2nd general strike in 5 months
- Low-cost MRI paired with AI produces high-quality results
- Judge tosses California children's pollution suit against US govt
- Pope's holy year causes transport jitters for Rome
- American 14-year-old talent signs MLS pro deal with Man City awaiting
- Nadal wants to lose fear factor after winning Rome opener
- UN official says Israel closure of Gaza crossings 'completely crippling' aid
- Panama Papers law firm boss Ramon Fonseca dead
- Eurovision draws street protests calling for Israel's ejection
- Stormy Daniels denies cashing in on claimed tryst with Trump
- Spain govt vows to block hostile BBVA bid for rival bank
- In south Brazil, race on to deliver aid ahead of new storms
- NHL Maple Leafs fire Keefe as coach after first-round exit
- Porsche recalls thousands of Taycans over faulty batteries
- Sanchez escapes through dust and gravel for nervy Giro triumph
- RFU warn England rugby star Billy Vunipola after Mallorca arrest
- Forest have 'moved on' from failed points deduction appeal, says Nuno
- Dyche unable to 'crack on' with Everton rebuild during takeover saga
- Stormy Daniels denies cashing in on claims of tryst with Trump
- Trump's son Barron, 18, named Republican delegate
- Mbappe gets ready to say goodbye as PSG digest Champions League exit
- Nadal squeezes past qualifier Bergs in Rome opener
- Boeing passenger plane exits runway in Senegal injuring 11
- Chessum in doubt for England's tour of Japan and New Zealand
- UK's Cameron calls for Israel to produce 'clear plan' for Rafah
- Cate Blanchett to be honoured at San Sebastian film festival
- Olympic torch relay in Marseille offers 'solidarity' with Ukraine
- Jorginho targets silverware after signing new Arsenal deal
- Stormy Daniels back in the Trump trial hot seat
- Scientists win World Food Prize for work on Global Seed Vault
- London, Frankfurt stocks hit record highs on rate-cut hopes
- Israel hits Rafah despite US warning on arms transfers
- Atletico win appeal over racist abuse sanction
- Nepal's nature threatened by new development push: conservationists
- Russell returns from injury to bolster Bath's bid for Premiership title
- Cate Blanchett to be honoured by San Sebastian film festival
- Charity warns Italy's ban on NGO planes risks lives
- Celtic captain McGregor urges Hoops to 'stay calm' against Rangers
- Olympic javelin champion Chopra targets 90m mark in Doha
- Norris backs McLaren to mount 2025 F1 title bid after Miami win
- London, Frankfurt hit record highs on rate-cut hopes
- UK's Cameron urges NATO countries to boost defence spending
- Bank of England holds rate at 16-year high, signals looming cut
- Spanish court shelves Shakira tax fraud case
- Bayern face uncertain future after Champions League exit
- Rafah struck after Biden warning on arms transfers
'I cried a little': from Texas to Canada, the awe and beauty of solar eclipse
The day died and was reborn a few minutes later Monday in the southern United States. There were hugs, tears and gasping as people watched the Moon fully eclipse the Sun and briefly plunge the world into darkness.
About 2,000 people flocked to Ingram in the southern US state of Texas, a small city in the "path of totality" where the solar eclipse could be observed in its entirety.
Spread on mattresses on the grass, sipping wine comfortably from folding chairs or peering into large telescopes, the viewers, their eyes covered by special protective glasses, celebrated each time the gray clouds parted, letting them enjoy the wonder.
"Three, two, one!" a man shouted.
And there was the Moon, a black orb completely covering the Sun, with only tiny slivers of light escaping from the edges. It was 1:32 pm local time.
Mary Elizabeth Fernandez, a 43-year-old librarian, said she came to Ingram because she wanted to observe the eclipse from Stonehenge II, a replica of the prehistoric stone monument the town is famous for.
"It was just so moving and spectacular. I tried to get pictures with my camera," said Fernandez, who was accompanied by her boyfriend.
"I cried a little bit because it's just so beautiful. And I'm just really glad that I was able to be a part of this with everybody here. It was really wonderful."
A few meters away, a large family shared drinks and snacks.
Mary McClintock, a 77-year-old retired teacher, said her relatives converged on Ingram from three different states: California, Florida and Illinois.
"We were so happy to see the different stages that we got to see even though it was cloudy," McClintock told AFP. "And we wanted to be together. And so we thought even if it's cloudy, we're happy to be here as a family and we're going to enjoy every minute we have."
- Light conquers darkness -
Meanwhile Jeni Lyn Hunter, 60, and her 57-year-old husband Charles Guillory gazed skyward, with large sorcerer's hats balanced precariously on their heads.
"It means a lot to me because I have stage 4 cancer. But I'm not giving up, this is a rebirth of the Sun of life," Hunter said.
"It's the cycle between life and death and life again, and I'm going to live for him, and for me and because I don't want to go anywhere."
Guillory was by his wife's side. "My hopes are for her to stay with me," he said.
Further away, under the replicas of moai statues -- the enormous stone human figures on Easter Island -- Gary Christensen and his wife Elizabeth took photos as they celebrated her husband's 62nd birthday.
"For a year and a half, this is the only present we've given each other every Christmas, every Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday, 'Oh, we're going to the eclipse'."
And then there was Robb Guzman, 31, wearing a mask of a green extraterrestrial with large elongated eyes. "I thought the aliens were going to come this time," he said. "But it was still fantastic."
- Spiritual meaning -
More than 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) away at Niagara Falls, Canada, crowds of people observed the eclipse under the cries of gulls and the roar of the famous waterfall.
Debi Flamand, a member of Canada's Manawan First Nations community, said witnessing a total solar eclipse "is very spiritual for us, because the sun for us is the grandfather and the moon is our grandmother."
For several minutes, the skies above the waterfalls and Toronto's distant silhouette grew dark as spectators shouted in excitement.
Madison, a young woman who made the trip from Boston, could not believe her eyes. "Those things that feel so impossible in this vast universe and it is happening just here," she said.
J.Horn--BTB