Latest news with #NickAllen
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Northampton Pride 2025 celebrating 'true authentic selves'
A Northampton Pride organiser said it was positive to see people celebrating their gender identity and Allen, from the local Pride committee, said there were more people at the event in Market Square on Saturday than the previous spectacle followed a policy change on West Northamptonshire Council which prevents the authority flying LGBTQ+ rainbow flags from its buildings."I am really enjoying seeing many more young people being able to celebrate their true authentic self... in ways I couldn't 30 years ago," Mr Allen said. The newly elected Reform UK administration made changes to the local authority's flag protocol after coming to power last means only the Union Flag, the St George's flag and the authority's own flag can be flown outside its Allen said it was "disappointing" not to see the council fly a Pride flag on the occasion, but many businesses and organisations in the square did."Northampton Pride will continue and, in many respects, when you look around the Market Square today, you see many of the businesses and organisations that have buildings here proudly displaying a rainbow or progress flag."I think that is really important to me to demonstrate that ally-ship. "Although, yes it is disappointing the council is not displaying the Pride flag outside its building on Northampton Pride day, largely the businesses and organisations based in the town are doing that for them - and I think that is really important to me." Kamila Nowysz, 27, had been in the town from Manchester when she heard about the teacher said: "The visibility is incredible."I think visibility is really important, it's important to know that we are here and we are not going away and we need the rights, queer rights, and human rights." Oskar Lee added: "It's really important, especially in recent times, to just know there is that sense of community and know that you're not alone."No matter what your identity, there are always people who will accept you and are like you." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
South Wales Guardian
06-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd hears food processing industry ‘in managed decline'
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors' Association, told the Senedd's rural affairs committee: 'My members are incredibly concerned about the direction of travel. 'And it doesn't just apply to Wales, [it's] right across the whole country, but I think it's particularly significant here: the decline in livestock numbers, the projections and, dare I say, the attitude and the desire… in the Welsh Government to actually drive a further reduction.' Mr Allen said: 'Big investors and employers in Wales are incredibly concerned about the future: more than concerned, I'd say incredibly depressed about what the future holds.' He warned: 'Unfortunately, it seems endemic within civil servants that they don't really want to help industry and work with them. They seem to almost [act] as a police force to stop us doing things rather than thinking 'this is what's good for the country'.' Mr Allen, who has been involved in discussions since the controversial sustainable farming scheme was paused by ministers, suggested the dial has barely moved in the months since. He described ministers' approach to bluetongue disease as 'another nail in the coffin'. José Peralta, chief executive of Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales, said livestock numbers have dropped significantly and will likely continue to fall. Giving evidence on June 2, he warned: 'That poses a big question mark about how do we carry on in the future with an industry that remains competitive.' Kepak, a family owned business which runs a beef and lamb processing site in Merthyr Tydfil, employing 1,000 people, raised urgent and grave concerns about livestock numbers. In its written evidence, the company said: 'The efficiency and viability of our operations and the jobs that we provide rely on a critical mass of livestock.' Asked about the Welsh Government's 2021 vision for the industry, Mr Peralta said: 'It's a set of very nice and good aims but I struggle to see sometimes what's underneath that's going to drive all the different elements to get to that final aim.'
South Wales Argus
04-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears food processing industry ‘in managed decline'
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors' Association, told the Senedd's rural affairs committee: 'My members are incredibly concerned about the direction of travel. 'And it doesn't just apply to Wales, [it's] right across the whole country, but I think it's particularly significant here: the decline in livestock numbers, the projections and, dare I say, the attitude and the desire… in the Welsh Government to actually drive a further reduction.' Mr Allen said: 'Big investors and employers in Wales are incredibly concerned about the future: more than concerned, I'd say incredibly depressed about what the future holds.' He warned: 'Unfortunately, it seems endemic within civil servants that they don't really want to help industry and work with them. They seem to almost [act] as a police force to stop us doing things rather than thinking 'this is what's good for the country'.' Mr Allen, who has been involved in discussions since the controversial sustainable farming scheme was paused by ministers, suggested the dial has barely moved in the months since. He described ministers' approach to bluetongue disease as 'another nail in the coffin'. José Peralta, chief executive of Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales, said livestock numbers have dropped significantly and will likely continue to fall. Giving evidence on June 2, he warned: 'That poses a big question mark about how do we carry on in the future with an industry that remains competitive.' Kepak, a family owned business which runs a beef and lamb processing site in Merthyr Tydfil, employing 1,000 people, raised urgent and grave concerns about livestock numbers. In its written evidence, the company said: 'The efficiency and viability of our operations and the jobs that we provide rely on a critical mass of livestock.' Asked about the Welsh Government's 2021 vision for the industry, Mr Peralta said: 'It's a set of very nice and good aims but I struggle to see sometimes what's underneath that's going to drive all the different elements to get to that final aim.'
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Farmers not listened to on Bluetongue, industry tells Senedd
The farming sector "wasn't listened to" by the Welsh government over bluetongue restrictions in Wales, according to industry Tuesday, all cattle, sheep and goats being transported across the border from England need to test negative for the disease before they can be moved into Welsh government said it was trying to prevent the virus from entering on Wednesday a Senedd committee heard the policy was "another nail in the coffin". Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can be fatal for livestock, including sheep and a UK government decision, the whole of England has been designated as a restricted zone since Tuesday. That means animals can be moved within England without decision has prompted the Welsh government to impose strict rules on the movement of livestock into Wales from England as it attempts to prevent the virus from crossing the coming into Wales to be slaughtered can still be transported without a pre-movement their slaughter must take place within 24 hours and "the movement must take place after dawn and be completed before dusk".On Wednesday, the British Meat Processors Association Chief Executive Nick Allen told the Senedd's economy committee the policy would "undoubtedly" raise questions about the viability of some meat processing plants in Wales. "It's going to cause problems and it's going to make your plants in Wales less competitive because it's going to be harder to bring animals into Wales," he Allen told the committee the main meat processing plants brought in a third of their animals from outside Wales on average."Frankly, it's another nail in the coffin," he Allen said he had discussed the concerns with the Welsh government "two weeks ago".Asked what response he was given, Mr Allen said "the industry wasn't listened to".Animals being transported to be kept alive, for example for breeding, will have to undergo testing or be vaccinated before they can be brought into Association of Independent Meat Suppliers Chairman John Thorley told the committee that ordinarily a lot of stock would be moved around the UK at this time of also claimed the "artificial boundary" now in place between Wales and England was "creating trading difficulties not only that will create very little benefit, but which will cause huge difficulty".
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Braves stay hot and rally past skidding Mets on 97-degree night in NY
Atlanta Braves' Nick Allen hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza takes the ball from New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazobán during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna, left, celebrates with Ronald Acuña after a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Nick Allen hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza takes the ball from New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazobán during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna, left, celebrates with Ronald Acuña after a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Olson had three RBIs, including a tiebreaking single that capped a five-run sixth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the reeling New York Mets 7-4 on Tuesday night. Spencer Strider (3-5) overcame one rugged inning to win his third straight start, and the Braves took advantage of nine walks by six Mets pitchers. Atlanta, which has won nine of 12 overall, improved to 5-0 against its NL East rival this year — all in the past eight days. Advertisement After getting an encouraging performance from starter Frankie Montas in his Mets debut, New York blew a 3-0 lead and lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Sidelined since spring training by a right lat strain, Montas struck out five in five shutout innings on a 97-degree night at Citi Field. But reliever Huascar Brazobán walked the first three batters in the sixth, and Atlanta pounced. Ozzie Albies delivered a sacrifice fly, and left-hander José Castillo (0-2) entered before pinch-hitter Eli White drove in a run with an infield single on a low line drive that glanced off the glove of diving third baseman Brett Baty. Michael Harris II was hit by a pitch, and No. 9 batter Nick Allen tied it 3-all with his third consecutive single after beginning the night with a .556 OPS. Advertisement One out later, Olson gave the Braves a 5-3 lead with a two-run single off Reed Garrett. Olson and Austin Riley each added an RBI double in the eighth. Raisel Iglesias got two outs in the ninth for his ninth save in 13 chances. Strider lost his first five starts this season after returning from right elbow surgery. But he beat the Mets for the second time in six days, striking out eight in five innings of two-hit ball. Strider walked three in a 34-pitch fourth as the Mets scored three times. But after Baty's two-run single, they didn't get another hit until Jeff McNeil's one-out double in the ninth. Advertisement Key moment After giving up an RBI double to Ronny Mauricio in the ninth, Iglesias retired Francisco Lindor with two on to end it. Key stat The game-time temperature was the hottest for a Mets home game since it was 98 degrees against Milwaukee at Shea Stadium in August 2001. Up next Mets RHP Clay Holmes (7-4, 3.04 ERA) pitches Wednesday night against 20-year-old righty Didier Fuentes (0-1, 7.20), who makes his second major league start for Atlanta. ___ AP MLB:
