Yes to US Covid plan

US President Joe Biden’s $1.9trillion relief plan to help Americans during the Covid pandemic has been approved in the House of Representatives.

Two Democrats joined Republicans – who believe the £1.4tn plan is too expensive – in opposing it.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which has already blocked a key element – doubling the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Biden’s package seeks to boost jabs and testing, and stabilise the economy.

POLICE have paid tribute to an officer killed in a collision with a van as she cycled on a dual carriageway.

Sgt Lynwen Thomas, 37, was a keen cyclist who had taken part in triathlons and a charity ride from John o’groats to Land’s End.

Devastated colleagues changed their Facebook profile pictures to a thin blue line after Sgt Thomas was killed near Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire, on Thursday evening.

Dyfed-powys Police, where she was a heritage crime specialist, said: “Sgt Thomas was a well-respected officer. Our thoughts are with her loved ones.”

The van driver was freed under investigation after the collision on the A40.

OF the 1,651 tax changes made since the Tories came to power in 2010, 63% were rises – knocking their claims that taxpayers always give more under Labour.

Vehicle excise duty was the tax with the most changes over the period with all but 10 of 258 being hikes.

And booze taxes were changed 125 times with only 11 of those being cuts.

A Taxpayers’ Alliance analysis of Office of Budget Responsibility figures shows the amount of tax collected will have risen by £172billion by next year.

TPA boss John O’connell said: “The tax burden is at a 70-year high.

“Conservative chancellors give with one hand but take back a good deal more with the other.”