Christmas celebrations are back in the Holy Land after being curtailed by coronavirus last year with festivities happening across Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth.
The detection of the Omicron variant has temporarily stopped Israelis and Palestinians welcoming tourists, since a two-week ban on foreign visitors came into force on Monday.
If the border restrictions are not lifted in time for Christmas, then worshippers abroad can watch services online, while residents have a rare opportunity to enjoy the festive season without crowds.
Bethlehem
Christian pilgrims are drawn to Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, to see the place where they believe Jesus was born. A grotto within the Church of the Nativity marks the precise location, according to worshippers, and is an important pilgrimage site.
A Christmas tree rises above the church on the square outside, topped with a golden star. Its lights will be switched on during a ceremony on December 4, which is open to all.
The church itself hosts numerous services in the run-up to Christmas, with midnight mass on December 24 usually drawing large numbers. After attendance at the ceremony was strictly limited last year, the municipality said this month that visitors from outside Bethlehem would be welcome.
Artisans will gather in Bethlehem to sell their wares at the Christmas market, from December 2 to December 12.
Jerusalem
While Jerusalem is at the heart of Easter events as the place where churchgoers believe Jesus was crucified, the city plays second fiddle to Bethlehem at Christmas.
Advent, the period leading up to Christmas and which started on November 28, was marked the evening before by a pilgrimage from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by the Custos of the Holy Land.
Although attention is turned to the West Bank city, the religious holiday nonetheless remains important to residents of the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City. Christmas decorations have been strung up, while the neighbourhood’s scout group is expected to hold a parade later in the month.
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, known as the crucifixion site, clergymen are due to hold a private midnight mass on December 24.
There are public celebrations at the YMCA building, which has perhaps the city’s most impressive decorations, for a Christmas Eve concert featuring various musical ensembles.
Nazareth
Not to be forgotten, residents in Jesus’s home town claim to have the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East. The tree’s lights are switched on on December 1.
The Arab-Israeli city, whose residents are also known as Palestinian citizens of Israel, sits north of the West Bank and is the gateway to the northern Galilee region.
During December there are Christmas-themed tours through Nazareth, which has a charming Old City, and a festive market which runs until December 11.
The festivities culminate on Christmas Eve, with a parade through the city centre and a fireworks display. Midnight mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Annunciation, where Christians believe an angel told Mary she would give birth to the son of God.
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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