Latest news with #checkpoints
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12 Behind-The-Scenes Secrets You Didn't Know About Race Across The World
Race Across The World might not have the Bushtucker Trials of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! or the physical demands of SAS: Who Dares Wins, but there is no doubt it is one of the toughest shows on TV – both for the contestants and the production team. Now five seasons down and with a batch of famous faces getting ready for the third celebrity series, most viewers are now familiar with the rules of the BBC show. As the title suggests, five pairs are tasked with racing across the globe, from a designated start point to a finish line in another country over the other side of the world. On their journey, the teams cross various checkpoints, and are not allowed to use a smartphone or credit card, with only the cash equivalent of a one-way economy air ticket to their destination to pay for all travel, food and accommodation. But what about all the rules that we don't know about, and the planning that goes into making the show? Well, allow us to lift the lid… If you thought bosses just came up with a route for the contestants and hoped for the best, you'd be wrong. In fact, a whole team of people test it out beforehand. Line producer Maria Kennedy told Radio Times: 'You get some really brave people out on the road for a couple of months [from the production team]. [They tell us], 'Here are going to be the sticking points. This is quite tricky. This bit is amazing'.' She added: 'They do it all on a budget as well so they're not like going out and spending loads of money and having a great jolly. They're literally looking at the budget and seeing if it's possible to get by on less than 50 quid a day.' According to the Guardian, only two producers go on the dry run, only one of whom actually knows the route and which way they are going. 'The other person has no idea and that person is in charge of making the decisions,' series producer Lucy Curtis said. Each time travels with two members of the production crew, a local fixer and a security adviser, but they apparently keep enough distance to 'make the trip feel authentic', the Guardian reported. Executive producer Mark Saben also told BBC News that a medical support vehicle also travels an hour or so behind the teams in some countries. Mark Saben told Broadcast that a director of photography and a series director follow all the teams, capturing the atmospheric camera shots that showcase the destinations. He explained: 'Not only did they shoot those big sweeping drone shots that capture the beauty and scale of their surroundings, but also the on-the-ground shots that convey the hustle and bustle of travelling, so viewers would feel immersed in the competitors' journeys.' The production team have to stay quiet, even when it is clear that the teams are making mistakes. Mark told Broadcast: 'How they made their journey was up to them. This meant, as a production, we had to react to their decisions, however nonsensical. 'It was a nightmare for production management, as the competing contributors decided how and where to go. You cannot underestimate how challenging the journey could be at times.' Executive producer Stephen Day also told The Telegraph: 'We will intervene if they're in danger, and we have a real duty of care. 'If contestants – and there have been some – who are so focussed on budget that they're not eating then you have to get them to spend money on food.' However, producers accompanying the participants on the road are not allowed to outright give them food, either. Praising the embedded crews, exec Mark told the BBC: 'They had to do the same journey as them, sleeping alongside them on the bus, they weren't given a five-star hotel. So they were almost like a family, with its ups and downs. 'And while we had done recces, the teams found bits of the world which were totally surprising.' Having done the initial recce before filming began, executive producer Mark Saben told BBC News that 'one of the poor sods had to do the actual trip again', this time with the real contestants. 'He was very stoical and didn't tell them until the very end, though. As much as possible, we wanted it to feel like a dry run,' Mark added. Prior to filming, exec producer Mark said the first series was 'a year in the making', but added to the BBC: 'It's all very well doing theoretically, looking at timetables and things. But until someone does it for real, you don't know where the difficulties might lie.' Things like visas and vaccines 'for every conceivable country' were sorted in advance. He added to Broadcast that they also 'research every likely bus and train option, cost and connection'. 'We drew up protocols that set rules for how the teams could hitchhike, travel at night and cross borders safely,' he added. 'If there was a significant issue at home, we might allow them to speak to a nominated person but we really try to keep them in the bubble as much as possible,' Maria Kennedy explained (per Radio Times). While the pamphlet of job ads is created by bosses, all the jobs are 100% real. 'We don't go to any of those places and say, 'For the purposes of the show, can you provide this kind of service?'' BBC commissioner Michael Jochnowitz said, according to Radio Times. 'Those are real jobs, real places, real money or accommodation and things like that so again, because they don't have access to a phone or the internet, we basically just give them a guide of potential opportunities in the area.' Executive producer Mark Saben added: 'We use as a rule of thumb, it's like what you'd find on a board in a hostel or something like that so we want [it] to feel absolutely as authentic as it possibly can be.' With budgets extremely tight, eating can become a real issue for the teams, and while you might think they are being given extras off camera, this is not the case. Series two winner Emon Choudhury – who triumphed with his nephew Jamiul – said they would often ask strangers for food and water. He told the Daily Express: 'I lost over a stone, a stone and a half and the same with my nephew, he lost quite a bit as well. The food was an issue. 'You always think on these TV shows, you get a sandwich off-camera or water or a little snack here or there but no, it wasn't like that!' Series one winners Tony and Elaine Teasdale also told the Telegraph that during one leg, they 'wouldn't eat unless somebody fed us or we found super-cheap street food'. 'We'd buy little packs of rice for 20p each, then eat those for three meals a day. I went down a dress size from 14 to 12!' Elaine said. 'Water is more important. We took chlorine tablets, so we didn't have to buy bottled water. That saved both money and time because we never had to find shops. Kebabs in Europe, rice in Asia, and we never bought any drink.' While season one of Race Across The World saw contestants travel from London to Singapore, and season two saw them begin in Mexico and end in Argentina, the third series was contained to just one country – Canada. This was because when the show was filmed, there were still many Covid travel restrictions still in place, which would have been an added complication for the teams and the production. The third season and the celebrity edition were originally planned to air much earlier, but production was pulled early into the pandemic. Season three winners, Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe revealed that they first applied for the show in 2019, but didn't hear anything back until 2021 because of Covid. Race Across The World concludes with the reunion special on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One, with a celebrity version due to air later in the year. Race Across The World Winners Reveal Sweet Plans For Their Prize Money Here's What These Former Race Across The World Finalists Did Next After Crossing The Finish Line Race Across The World Stars Caroline And Tom Take On 'Posh' Critics
Free Malaysia Today
01-06-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
M'sian drivers who jump queue at S'pore checkpoints risk ban, warns ICA
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Singapore has warned motorists, including Malaysians, that they risk severe penalties, including blacklisting and a possible ban, if they jump queue at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said it will be on the lookout for inconsiderate drivers, especially in view of the June school holidays, The Straits Times reported. Mardiana Masdar, team leader at the integrated operations centre at the Woodlands checkpoint, said ground officers who spot vehicles jumping queue will alert the team at the operations centre. They will relay this information to traffic controllers near the checkpoint to direct them to make a U-turn to rejoin the queue. 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our secondary office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queue,' she said. In June 2023, a Malaysian driver travelling from Singapore to Malaysia via the Woodlands checkpoint had refused to make a U-turn, and even drove off after being caught by ICA for trying to jump the queue. Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore. The ICA said traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. The authority said that during the long Wesak Day weekend between May 8 and May 13, more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The traffic volume peaked on May 9, with more than 546,000 travellers clearing immigration at both checkpoints in one day.
Malay Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Caught cutting the line at Woodlands or Tuas? Singapore's ICA says expect a U-turn or a blacklist
SINGAPORE, June 1 — As the June school holidays begin in Singapore, the country's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers are stepping up enforcement against motorists who attempt to jump queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The Straits Times reported today that motorists caught trying to cut ahead in line risk being forced to make a U-turn to the back of the queue — and could face tougher penalties such as blacklisting or bans from entering via vehicle in future. Inspector Mardiana Masdar, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping incidents spike during peak hours, when traffic congestion is most severe. Speaking at a virtual interview on May 28, she stressed the seriousness of such violations. 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues,' she was quoted as saying. She added that officers on the ground alert the control team when they spot such behaviour, who then direct the offending drivers to make a U-turn. Repeat offenders or those who refuse to comply may be banned from entering the checkpoint by vehicle and will have to use alternative transport. She cited a 2023 case involving a Malaysian driver who, after being caught queue-jumping, refused to turn back and drove off instead. 'Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore,' she said. Traffic volume at land checkpoints is expected to be especially high from June 6 to 9, which includes the Hari Raya Haji weekend. ICA said in a May 23 statement that during the recent Wesak Day long weekend (May 8–13), over three million travellers cleared both checkpoints. On May 9 alone, more than 546,000 crossed the borders — one of the highest single-day figures this year. Crowds had also caused jams of up to five hours over the May 3 Polling Day weekend. Checkpoint officers are bracing themselves for similar or worse conditions during the June holidays. Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said the long waits often lead to flared tempers. 'Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly,' she was quoted as saying. 'Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling.' Officers have also had to deal with motorists becoming verbally abusive, though Insp Neo noted most are ignored unless they cross the line. Wet weather further complicates clearance procedures — especially for motorcyclists, whose wet fingerprints may fail to register on automated lanes, leading to delays. To avoid unnecessary delays, travellers are urged not to carry prohibited items. Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, recalled stopping a Singaporean couple who brought batons they claimed were for home defect inspections. 'At one glance, I knew that was not the case,' he said. The couple were referred to police, and the items deemed controlled. CI (1) Kendri said, 'We remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Traps West Bank Palestinians Between Checkpoints, Gates
From early morning to late at night, local radio stations in the West Bank offer a service akin to weather or currency updates elsewhere: live 'crossings' reports. But here, they serve a grimmer purpose, helping Palestinians navigate a maze of Israeli military checkpoints that can make a routine trip a matter of life or death. 'The northern entrance to al-Bireh is closed in both directions. The Atara-Birzeit gate is shut. Heavy traffic and inspections at the Atara village gates. Rawabi entrance is open. Ein Siniya is clear. Traffic jam and inspections between Yabrud and Silwad.' The broadcast goes on, listing over a dozen closures, bottlenecks, and military checkpoints. Since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a deadly military campaign in Gaza and stepped-up operations across the West Bank, residents have grown accustomed to checking the radio before stepping out — not for rain or sun, but for which roads are open, and which are militarized. For many Palestinians, every journey now begins with a calculation: which route is less likely to end in detention, injury, or worse. Some simply stay home, avoiding the uncertainty and humiliation altogether. The network of closures has turned normal life into a logistical nightmare. Key junctions like the Container checkpoint near Bethlehem and Hamra in the Jordan Valley are often closed in both directions, while entrances to towns such as Salfit, Dura, Sa'ir, and al-Arroub are blocked entirely. Even areas with relatively light congestion, like al-Nashash or Kalandia checkpoint, can see delays due to sudden inspections or shifting policies. The consequences of these restrictions can be deadly. Palestinians still recall the killing of 29-year-old Mohammad al-Jundi, who was shot near a newly erected checkpoint in Beit Jala. Witnesses say he had stepped forward to help an elderly woman open a locked gate, a simple act of kindness that cost him his life. 'They executed him in the middle of the street,' one local resident said. What was meant to be a brief walk home turned into an irreversible tragedy, one emblematic of a broader reality in which daily travel through the West Bank is anything but routine. Mahmoud al-Azza left his home in Bethlehem early, hoping to make it to his university classes in the nearby town of Abu Dis. Instead, he found himself stuck in a long line of cars at the Container checkpoint - one of the most notorious in the West Bank, dividing its northern and southern regions. Al-Azza quickly realized he would miss his first lecture. Still, he clung to the hope of attending the rest. But three hours passed, then five. He was trapped, along with hundreds of others, unable to move forward or turn back. Prisoners in their own vehicles, waiting for a soldier's whim. 'I thought I might have to delay my semester,' al-Azza told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'The problem is that this happens every day now. They close the checkpoint at random times for one, two, even three hours. We just stand there, waiting for a soldier to feel like letting us through. It's humiliating, exhausting.' Before October 7, 2023, such disruptions occurred sporadically, al-Azza said. Now they are constant. 'Every hour, every day, they either shut the checkpoints entirely or inspect each car slowly, checking every ID. It's as if they're doing it on purpose, to humiliate us. We can't take it anymore.' The Container checkpoint is one of hundreds of roadblocks and iron gates scattered across the occupied West Bank, a system Israel has built up since 1967 and expanded drastically since October 7, 2023, when war erupted in Gaza and security tightened across the West Bank. A Landscape of Barriers According to the Palestinian Authority's Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, there are now 898 Israeli military checkpoints and iron gates across the West Bank. Of those, 146 were added after October 7, and 18 more were installed in just the first five months of 2025. 'These include old, new, permanent, and rotating barriers,' said Amir Daoud, Director of Documentation and Publication at the commission. 'It reflects a consistent Israeli policy, one of systematic closure and control since 1967.' The tightening web of checkpoints across the occupied West Bank is not just a security measure, but a strategic reconfiguration of Palestinian space, aimed at fragmentation and control, according to Palestinian officials. 'What we are witnessing today is unprecedented,' said Daoud. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Daoud accused Israel of attempting to impose a new spatial reality on Palestinians, one that overrides familiar roads and territories with a framework of closures, surveillance, and exclusion. Since October 7, 2023 - the date that marked the start of Israel's war on Gaza and a sweeping parallel crackdown in the West Bank - gates have become the defining feature of the Israeli occupation's infrastructure, Daoud said. 'Before October 7, the closure system generally targeted large geographic zones, isolating the north from the south, for example. Today, it operates differently. The focus is on isolating individual communities, like villages. That's a new pattern.' Daoud also raised alarm over the changing character of Israeli forces manning the checkpoints. 'Previously, the soldiers were regular army personnel, trained to some extent, with at least minimal instruction to abide by international law,' he said. 'Now, we are seeing militias, including members of the religious Zionist movement and others who are openly driven by ideology and vengeance. They are not there to maintain order; they are there to punish. They are imposing an oppressive environment designed to break the will of the people.' Israeli military checkpoints have now encircled virtually every Palestinian town and village in the occupied West Bank, transforming daily life into a tightly regulated existence defined by gates and roadblocks. In Hebron alone, there are 229 checkpoints. Ramallah has 156, and Bethlehem 65, a network that includes iron gates sealing off entire villages and refugee camps, effectively turning them into open-air prisons. For many Palestinians, especially those living in gated communities, life has become a series of negotiations with steel barriers. Residents must plan their work, education, and even medical appointments around the unpredictable opening times of these gates.
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Planning a trip to Malaysia in June? Brace for hours-long jams at Singapore checkpoints
SINGAPORE, May 23 — The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) here has warned travellers to expect 'very heavy' traffic at land checkpoints with Malaysia during the June school holidays and Hari Raya Haji weekend. The congestion period will span from May 31 to June 29 for school holidays, with an additional surge expected during the Hari Raya Haji long weekend from June 6 to 9, CNA reported. Travellers should consequently expect much longer waiting times to clear immigration during these peak periods. The authority also advised motorists checking traffic conditions before beginning any journey to the checkpoints. Cross-border bus services are recommended as an alternative to avoid the worst of the vehicle congestion. During the recent Wesak Day weekend in May, car travellers faced waiting times of up to three hours due to traffic backup from Malaysia. The ICA stressed that travellers must cooperate with officers and maintain proper traffic discipline. More than 3 million people crossed both land checkpoints during the Wesak Day period, with over 546,000 clearing immigration on the peak day of May 9. ICA has warned it will take action against those who fail to follow instructions during the busy travel period.
