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Eli Lilly announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, as part of its $27 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing plants. The facility will focus on producing small molecule drugs, including an experimental obesity pill, orforglipron. The company is aiming to address supply constraints and meet the growing demand for these drugs, particularly in the booming market for GLP-1s.

The new Houston site is expected to create 615 jobs in the Greater Houston area and bring 4,000 construction jobs. Eli Lilly’s investment in domestic manufacturing reflects a strategic move to boost production in the U.S. and align with President Donald Trump’s push to re-shore production. The company aims to enhance its ability to manufacture small molecule drugs and fulfill the potential of orforglipron as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes on a global scale.

A new research report by the Latino Donor Collaborative reveals that U.S. Latino immigrants contributed a whopping $1.6 trillion to the GDP in 2023, with an overall purchasing power of $4.1 trillion. Economists from Arizona State University noted that the Latino GDP saw a significant 50% increase from 2015, driven by higher levels of education, entrepreneurship, and labor force participation. In contrast, the estimated GDP of non-Latinos in the U.S. only grew by 17% during the same period.

The report highlighted California as a key player in Latino GDP, with a staggering $989 billion in 2023 alone, projected to surpass a trillion dollars by 2025. As Latino spending continues to grow, experts warn that mass deportations could disrupt this economic progress and lead to significant losses. If as many as 8.3 million undocumented workers were deported, the U.S. could face a decline in total GDP by $2.3 trillion or $7.7%, showcasing the vital role U.S. Latinos play in driving economic growth.

Starbucks revealed a $1 billion restructuring plan, including closing some North American coffeehouses and laying off more workers as part of its “Back to Starbucks” transformation under CEO Brian Niccol. With a decline of about 1% in company-operated stores in North America in fiscal year 2025, along with the estimated 500 gross closures, the company is aiming to prioritize resources for a stronger future.

Niccol emphasized the need for these steps to reinforce what is working and build a more resilient Starbucks that deepens its impact on the world. The company plans to focus on investment closer to the coffeehouse and customer experience, in a bid to reverse a sales slump in its largest market. By ending fiscal year 2025 with nearly 18,300 North American locations and a focus on customer service, Starbucks is taking bold steps towards growth and sustainability in the face of increased competition and changing consumer expectations.

A report released on Wednesday highlights the effects of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) remaking of the federal workforce on the Washington job market. The DMV Monitor, a real-time data interactive, revealed a 64% increase in homes for sale in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region since June 2024, with the region’s unemployment rate being the highest in the nation. DOGE’s purges of federal agencies led to tens of thousands of job cuts, including layoffs and incentives to quit, significantly impacting the Washington area.

Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, predicts a total of 300,000 fewer federal workers nationwide by the year’s end. Alongside mass layoffs, President Trump’s actions to reshape the nation’s capital, such as deploying National Guard troops and federalizing the city’s police department, may further impact consumer spending and investment. The report warns of stagnating private-sector job growth and the potential for more federal job losses in the future.

French voice actor Françoise Cadol found herself at the center of a controversy when her iconic portrayal of Lara Croft in the “Tomb Raider” video game series was replaced by an AI-generated voice. Fans were quick to notice the robotic and lifeless quality of the new voice, prompting outrage and calls for action. As Cadol and her supporters rallied against this unauthorized use of her voice, the incident shed light on the growing concerns surrounding AI technology and its impact on human workers in various industries.

The incident has sparked a debate on the ethical boundaries of AI usage and the need for regulations to protect the rights of voice actors and other professionals. With similar concerns emerging in Hollywood and around the world, the voiceover community is calling for measures to prevent the unauthorized use of actors’ voices for deepfakes and other illicit activities. Cadol’s determination to reclaim control over her voice and seek justice from the game developer serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the artistry and talent of human performers in the face of advancing technology.

YouTube, owned by Alphabet, has announced that it will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were previously banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer enforce. This decision comes as part of tech companies’ rollbacks on content moderation after facing pressure from conservatives, including former President Donald Trump. The move reflects YouTube’s commitment to free speech and valuing conservative voices on its platform, recognizing their important role in civic discourse.

The letter from Alphabet’s attorneys, submitted in response to subpoenas from the House Judiciary Committee, highlighted the platform’s decision to ease restrictions on content related to COVID-19 and election misinformation. This announcement also comes amidst allegations from tech CEOs, such as Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, of government officials attempting to coerce companies into removing certain content. The reinstatement process for banned creators on YouTube has not been fully detailed, with a spokesperson for the platform yet to provide further information.

The U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA) announced on Wednesday that a man has been arrested in connection to the ransomware attack that disrupted several European airports over the weekend. The attack, targeting check-in systems provided by Collins Aerospace, caused delays at airports in Brussels, Berlin, Dublin, and London’s Heathrow. The arrested man, in his forties, was taken into custody in West Sussex under the Computer Misuse Act. While released on conditional bail, the investigation is ongoing, according to the NCA.

RTX, the owner of Collins Aerospace, confirmed in an SEC filing that the cyberattack involved ransomware, leading to flight delays and cancellations. The incident was first revealed by European cybersecurity agency ENISA and has impacted customer-specific networks. Despite the confirmation, details about the ransomware type and hackers responsible remain unclear. Technology journalists Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai and Zack Whittaker, reporting for TechCrunch, are covering the ongoing investigation into the ransomware attack.