Germany to restore half of Global Fund donation withheld earlier this year

"Germany is unblocking half of the funding it withheld from" the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria "following revelations of corruption earlier this year," the Associated Press reports.

"Development Aid Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Lesch says Berlin has decided to release euro100 million ($145 million) of the euro200 million ($290 million) that it originally pledged for 2011," the news service writes. Lesch "said Monday that Berlin wants to ensure that aid can be released but used in a 'corruption-free' way" by stipulating the money is to be used only in countries where international organizations, such as the U.N. Development Program, are responsible for delivering Global Fund donations (7/4).