German lawmakers

German lawmakers passed a bill to increase mandatory drug discounts from 7% to 15.5% to address a health insurance budget gap, which industry groups argue could deter investment and reduce access to new medicines. U.S. drug developers are adopting secrecy to prevent Chinese biotech firms from using their data to create competing drugs and accelerate clinical trials.

Australian pension officials are targeting private assets during a European trip, coinciding with German lawmakers passing a major spending package to unlock significant debt financing for defense and infrastructure, ending decades of budget austerity.