Latest news with #Commandos
The Herald Scotland
29-05-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
'World's first' diving expedition to secluded Scottish shoreline
The team was made up of a marine archaeologist, a Royal Engineer bomb disposal diver, two marine biologists and a world-record-holding female powerboat racer. They were led by marine conservationist, broadcaster and former Royal Marine Monty Halls, whose most notable adventures include leading a multi-disciplinary team to the discovery of a sunken city off the Indian coast, three expeditions to Malawi to explore the ecosystems of the famous freshwater lake, and one to South Africa diving for evidence of prehistoric settlements in cave systems off the Cape. READ MORE: The successful expedition, which took place between May 17-24, found munitions, debris, and relics of the first amphibious training operations run the Commandos and SOE – the Special Operations Executive. The historical remnants, left on land and the seabed during secret military training during WWII, have helped build a picture of what was involved in the preparation. Using methodical surveying techniques to find relics beneath the sand, the team's diving operations were the first ever to take place where the amphibious landings had been rehearsed from June 1940 onwards.
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NZSAS elite domestic terror Commando unit quietly shelved as police anti-terror team steps up
Previously those squadrons were entirely focused offshore. The alleged move follows a sharp drop in experience and numbers at the NZSAS in recent years. What is the NZSAS D Squadron? The D Squadron was created in 2005, initially called the Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group. It offered a shorter selection course than that faced by NZSAS aspirants, offering a more direct pathway to special forces that met NZDF's domestic counter-terrorism requirements without the expansive set of skills taught to fully-badged NZSAS operators. It was praised two years later by then Minister of Defence Phil Goff as a part of an important and 'robust counter-terrorism response' in an 'uncertain security environment'. The Commando unit had its own badge with fighting daggers crossing a taiaha. In contrast, NZSAS operators wear the classic winged daggers with the motto, "Who Dares Wins". Goff highlighted the unit as evidence of NZDF 'significantly upgrading its counter-terrorism capabilities'. The Commando unit was distinctive within the NZSAS, with its own badge. Rather than the famous winged daggers of the NZSAS, the Commandos badge was two crossed fighting daggers across a taiaha, intended to represent the three branches of the military and 'readiness for action'. It was also distinctive for the black belt worn by those who had been accepted into the unit. There is very little public information about the secretive Commandos, but in 2020, an Army News piece quoted one of the team as saying: 'NZ Commandos are self-motivated operators who are thinkers before shooters.' He said the motto of the unit was 'ready to strike' and its 'chosen values' were being a teammate, mission focus, accountability and 'win everything'. 'The job of the D Squadron Commandos is to respond to domestic, no-notice call outs and solve the problem regardless of circumstance.' What will replace the elite SAS unit? While the SAS has declined in numbers, police have reinforced their premier armed response unit, the Special Tactics Group (STG). Information obtained through the Official Information Act has shown that the Special Tactics Group had a large funding boost in 2019 - the year of the Christchurch terror attack - and baseline funding then increased from $8.2m in 2020 to $9.4m last year. It is understood that the number of people in the STG also increased over that time period. The STG's role goes beyond counter-terrorism. It also provides police with a flexible, highly-trained armed response to dangerous incidents. The Herald understands the STG had faster access to helicopters, integrated communications networks rather than separate military communications, and better integration with other domestic agencies. Police tactical operations acting head Inspector Freda Grace said revealing the numbers of STG personnel would place the public and those officers at risk by revealing their 'specific operational capability'. 'STG plays an important role in the strategy to keep people safe using highly trained officers with specialist skills that can be called upon at short notice to resolve situations quickly and safely.' Police use the group in dozens of call-outs each year. Members of the NZSAS Commando unit carrying out a counter-terrorism training exercise. Does D Squadron still exist? NZDF has refused to confirm or deny whether the Commandos still exist, even though it no longer carries recruitment information in its publications. Police are similarly tight-lipped on detail about the STG. A spokeswoman for Minister of Defence Judith Collins said she was confident the NZSAS remained capable of fulfilling its domestic role. The Herald has been told by those connected to the NZSAS that the Commandos ceased to exist as a designated counter-terrorism unit about two years ago. The arrival of Covid 19, the posting of NZSAS operators to guard 501 deportees from Australia, and the fall of Kabul reducing future deployment opportunities led to some of the elite unit's most experienced non-commissioned officers (NCOs) leaving. The NZDF was so concerned it began offering up to $30,000 bonuses to those who stayed. Defence bosses internally spoke of the NZSAS as 'near collapse'. The Herald understands the problem was compounded as attrition also hit the wider defence force, severely cutting numbers enlisting in traditional NZSAS 'feeder' units. At the time, the NZSAS was placing even greater focus on working with foreign partners, particularly the United States, with a focus on what is called 'expeditionary' - or offshore - missions. The Herald has been told that led to a focus on ensuring NZDF could field a fully-operable A Squadron and B Squadron at the cost of the Commando unit. Even so, the Herald understands it has struggled to maintain even a full B Squadron complement. The Herald has been told that those who were in the Commandos were given a choice: go through the full NZSAS selection process to advance into A Squadron and B Squadron, or to return to the units from which they came. NZDF told the Herald it would not share information about specific units and their roles due to 'operational security' and risk to national security. A NZDF spokesman said: 'The New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) Regiment continues to provide a government-directed output for a domestic counter-terrorism response in support of New Zealand Police and other agencies.' The spokesman said the NZSAS had been 'organised in many different ways to best suit the operating environment of the time' over its 70-year history and 'that continues to this day'. Defence Minister Judith Collins says she is confident NZDF can manage its counter-terrorism obligations. Photo / Mark Mitchell 'This has not resulted in any reduction or change to the regiment's output. It remains ready to provide the Government with effective military options.'the Who's in charge of counter-terrorism? Police were and remain the lead agency for terrorist incidents in New Zealand, with an agreement between it and NZDF that allows for the NZSAS to be called on if required. The NZSAS has had a supporting counter-terrorism role since the late 1970s when terrorist incidents increased in New Zealand. The Regiment - then known as 'the Unit' for its smaller size - was facing an uncertain future after Vietnam but the detonation of a bomb outside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sydney in 1978 assured it continued. Sir Robert Muldoon, who was present at the CHOGM meeting, lent his political might to lobbying by the NZSAS within NZDF which saw its elite soldiers take on the counter-terrorism 'black role' (as distinct from the 'green role' of special forces working offshore). Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon reviewing specialist weapons used by the NZSAS. Around the same time, police developed its own counter-terrorism response with the Anti-Terrorist Squad, renamed in 1991 as the Special Tactics Group - a part-time role until the early 2000s when it was made full-time in response to growing terror incidents internationally. New Zealand's counter-terrorism response was further bolstered with the creation of NZDF's Commandos in 2005, initially called the Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group. It offered a shorter selection course than that faced by NZSAS aspirants and those who succeeded went on to four months of training in combat assault and marksmanship skills. The intent was to offer a more direct pathway to special forces that would meet NZDF's domestic counter-terrorism requirement without the expansive set of skills taught to fully-badged NZSAS operators. In 2009, the team was rebranded as D Squadron as the NZSAS set its course for the future with the recently-created Explosive Ordnance Team rounding out the expansion of highly-trained units under Special Operations Command. Those who passed selection for D Squadron still retained the option of undertaking the gruelling, extended selection process for operators in A Squadron and B Squadron. History of NZSAS counter-terrorism Muldoon's championing of the NZSAS into a counter-terrorism space ensured its survival and led to a close and famous connection to the regiment. The Herald reported in 2017 on Muldoon taking a seat in a darkened training room with former NZSAS commander Graye Shattky, the pair playing the part of 'hostages', when the elite soldiers burst in with explosions and weapons blazing. After, Muldoon said to Shattky: 'I suppose on occasion you practice with live ammunition.' Those with Muldoon recalled he paled when Shattky pointed to the holes in the targets that had surrounded the men: 'That was live ammunition, Prime Minister.' One former operator recalled visiting Muldoon at the Beehive with other NZSAS members. 'I remember sitting in his chair in Parliament. I had my feet up on his desk and had my guys around. He walked in and says 'hello boys, how are you?'.' Muldoon then closed his office door, revealing a photograph of himself with the NZSAS. The operator remembered Muldoon's cackle as he pointed to the image: 'There you are,' he said. 'You're my gang.' David Fisher is based in Northland and has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, winning multiple journalism awards including being twice named Reporter of the Year and being selected as one of a small number of Wolfson Press Fellows to Wolfson College, Cambridge. He joined the Herald in 2004. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Sunday World
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
Rocky's pub in Castlebar will leave you floored with knockout pints at just €5.50
There was a brilliant atmosphere throughout our stay and the stone interior walls are a lovely feature too. We went a few rounds in Rocky's bar WE haven't been to Castlebar since 2018, so our Commandos were particularly looking forward to our latest outing. The six-hour round trip isn't ideal, but the plan was to have enough porter so we could sleep all the way home. We accomplished that mission, thankfully. We've never done a proper count but there must be more than 20 pubs in this ever-expanding town and we've yet to find a bad one — a nice claim to fame for the area. Our designated driver found a parking spot on New Antrim Street and a very short stroll later we found ourselves at the front door of Rocky's pub on Linenhall Street. The bouncer opened the door for us and welcomed us in, and as we stepped inside we realised the pub was thriving. There was a mixed clientele of all ages and at least four staff behind the counter at all times. Our Commandos stood at one of the high tables about two metres from the counter as we tried to place our order, but it did take some time as it was extremely busy. 'You wouldn't get this in Temple Bar,' the Young Commando joked with one of the locals. 'And you'd be served much quicker too,' he said with a grin. 'You probably would but you'd pay €10 for a pint of slop,' the local bar-fly replied. When we finally did get served, the creamy pints of stout set us back €5.50, an increase from the €4.20 we paid in Castlebar seven years ago, while pints of Carlsberg were €5.80. They serve food in this pub between Friday and Sunday from 1pm while they also host live music from Thursday to Sunday. The wine-coloured leather barstools were in good condition and the timber flooring was spotlessly clean despite it being extremely busy during our visit. The green and red coloured glass windows didn't surprise us as the Mayo folks are some of the most loyal sports fans in the country. However, it wasn't a great weekend from a sporting point of view, with the senior footballers losing to Kerry in Croke Park and Castlebar hosting the Munster victory over Connacht in front of 25,000 fans in McHale Park. 'A poor result but it was great to see 25,000 people pour into Castlebar to watch the game,' one local told us. 'They should tour the province while they're waiting on the stadium to be redeveloped, a great way to promote the game,' he continued Elsewhere, a Mayo jersey hangs just inside the front door and a photo of the Mayo ladies team that won the 2023 Connacht championship hangs behind the counter. As our team of Commandos took in the atmosphere around the place, they also came across a second Mayo jersey worn by Paddy Durcan in 2023, and an Ireland soccer jersey signed by Katie Taylor, Usain Bolt and former Ireland manager Giovanni Trappatoni. 'I'd trade all that for the All-Star jersey worn by Willie Joe Padden,' the Old Commando said. 'One of the all time greats,' he informed us. There was a brilliant atmosphere throughout our stay and the stone interior walls are a lovely feature too. Another local, who was bending the Old Commando's ear, told him that this was 'an old man's pub' and 'very small' at one point but had been completely revamped in recent years. As expected, the toilets passed the test. We loved Rocky's pub and we'd definitely recommend a visit if you're heading down that direction anytime in the future. Rating: Four pints out of Five One for the road: The Rendezvous – Balla, Co Mayo It's been nine years since Pub Spy last stopped off in Balla for a pint but we had a wonderful time on our recent trip to The Rendezvous and we're already looking forward to our next visit already. The pub was packed when we arrived but we managed to get seats and huddled around the large stove. The red-leather bench seating was very comfy and there was a brilliant atmosphere among the mixed clientele, which ranged from young to elderly. There are at least five TVs and a large projection screen, a dart board and a pool table. The barman was friendly and pulled a nice pint of stout, but they also have Heineken Zero, Orchard Thieves, Birra Moretti and Rockshore cider available on draught. The toilets contained two cubicles and a stainless steel urinal and the Young Commando said they were very clean. We'll be sure to call again. Rating: Three pints out of Five
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Taj closed to public as Agra gears up to welcome JD Vance
Agra: United States vice-president JD Vance and his family are set to embark on a one-day trip to Agra, where they will visit Taj Mahal on Wednesday. The monument will be closed to the public from sunrise until the conclusion of the visit. The Agra administration on Tuesday confirmed that UP CM Yogi Adityanath will be present at the Agra airport to receive Vance, wife Usha Vance, and their children. According to the schedule, CM Adityanath will arrive in Agra at 8:30 am and will depart around 9:35 am after the official reception. Ahead of the visit, security in Agra has been heightened, and final preparations are being made to beautify the route that Vance's convoy will take. The administration also announced the closure of schools in the city, with classes being conducted online for the day. Agra (City) DCP Sonam Kumar said, "The security liaisoning meeting of different stakeholders has been held. Apart from CISF, archaeological department, Indian Air Force, and police, meetings were held with security agencies. Security personnel will be stationed along the route, and thorough verification will be conducted for all artists and school children involved in the program." Official sources claimed that the intelligence agencies have already taken positions in Agra. A special contingent of US Commandos reached Agra by two special planes on Tuesday to further boost the security.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minister promises review of decision not to award SAS founder a Victoria Cross
Evidence of whether one of the founding members of the SAS should be awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) posthumously will be reviewed, a defence minister has said. Al Carns said the military service of Lieutenant Colonel Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, a highly decorated war hero from Co Down, will be looked at to 'provide an answer once and for all'. There have been calls for Lt Col Mayne, who volunteered for service at the start of the Second World War before putting his name forward to join the Commandos, to be given the highest award of all. In the Commons, Mr Carns said the Honours Committee will conduct a 'calculated review' of the historical facts, after DUP MP Jim Shannon put forward an early day motion on the issue. Speaking to MPs, the minister said: 'What we know from the paperwork that exists about Lieutenant Colonel Mayne's recommendation for a Victoria Cross, there is lots of speculation that appropriate processes were not followed, or that an administrative error took place. 'The evidence we have suggests Lieutenant Colonel Mayne's citation passed through the correct chain of command and was properly considered by a succession of senior officers, all of whom were experienced and had a lot of combat experience, both in leadership and the field, in consideration of medallic recognition and gallantry awards, after many years of hard fighting during the Second World War.' Mr Carns added: 'It is recognised, and I do note that clerical mistakes in judgments or orders, or indeed errors arising from any accidental slip or omission in language, explicitly permits fixing such errors with no time limit, as long as the intent of the original decision holds. 'And so as a Member of Parliament who has a Mentioned in Dispatches, a Military Cross and a DSO (Distinguished Service Order), I will therefore take note of this new evidence that has been highlighted and the context of which it sits, and under the exceptional circumstances of this debate, and I will ask the honours and awards committee to review the evidence and look to find a decision. 'But once the decision is found by that independent body, it will be finalised, and I think that will provide us an answer once and for all on Paddy Mayne's both service and indeed how it is recognised.' The second series of SAS Rogue Heroes follows Mr Mayne, played by Jack O'Connell, as he takes control of the SAS and attempts to prove that the regiment remains essential to the war.
