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.