Republicans in the US Senate have said they will spare the US-backed HIV/Aids programme Pepfar from cuts, amid a larger effort to reduce government spending. Senators said they would end a plan to cut $400m (£300m) from the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief programme, leaving total proposed cuts at $9bn.

The proposed cuts have caused concerns among some Senate Republicans, including Utah Sen. John Curtis, who may consider removing that provision from the final package.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday moved toward approval of President Donald Trump's plan for billions of dollars in cuts to funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, which would hand Trump another victory as he exerts control over Congress.