Drake's Legal Battle Against UMG Over Streaming Manipulation

Drake accuses Universal Music Group of manipulating streaming numbers to undermine his success amid a music industry conspiracy.

### Drake's Legal Battle and Global News Highlights
* 🎤 Drake has filed a court petition accusing Universal Music Group and Spotify of **manipulating streams** for the song "Not Like Us," alleging a scheme to **artificially inflate its popularity**.
* ⚖ The petition claims UMG charged Spotify **lower licensing rates** in exchange for promoting the song to users searching for **unrelated artists** and used **bots to increase its visibility**.
* 🔍 Drake's lawyers assert that UMG is attempting to **conceal its actions by terminating employees loyal to him**, and they have raised serious allegations, including **violations of the RICO statute**.
* 🤖 In a separate story, Virgin Media O2 has introduced an **AI-generated grandma named Daisy** to distract scammers, keeping them occupied and preventing them from **targeting real victims**.
* 💊 In health news, the Biden administration is proposing to **expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for weight loss medications** like Ozempic, potentially impacting **7.5 million beneficiaries**, although it faces opposition from the incoming Trump administration.
* 💰 This proposal could cost taxpayers **up to $35 billion over a decade**, but advocates argue that obesity-related healthcare costs **exceed $173 billion annually** in the U.S.
* 🌍 Meanwhile, protests in Pakistan have turned deadly as citizens demand the **release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan**, resulting in clashes with law enforcement and **multiple casualties**.
* 📉 The political landscape continues to shift, with major corporations like Walmart moving away from **DEI initiatives**, reflecting a broader **backlash against diversity programs** amid changing social and political sentiments.

Drake Threatens to Sue Over “Not Like Us”, Israel Hezbollah Ceasefire, Mexico Hits Back At Trump, &

Philip DeFranco

Drake accuses Universal Music Group and Spotify of manipulating streams

Drake alleges in a court filing that UMG and Spotify artificially inflated streams of "Not Like Us."

The filing claims UMG manipulated streaming services and airwaves to make the song go viral.

UMG is accused of offering Spotify lower licensing rates in exchange for promotion and using bots to inflate popularity.

Drake's lawyers claim UMG concealed its schemes by terminating employees perceived as loyal to Drake.

Drake's team accuses UMG of violating the RICO statute, despite both artists being under the UMG umbrella.

The filing is a pre-action petition to secure information before filing a lawsuit, not a lawsuit itself.

Virgin Media O2 created Daisy, an AI grandma, to fight scammers by engaging them in long, irrelevant conversations.

Daisy talks about her grandchildren, pets, hobbies, and struggles with technology to waste scammers' time.

Daisy reportedly spent nearly an hour with three scammers, preventing them from targeting real victims.

Daisy's design makes her an ideal target, and her endless chatter prevents scammers from progressing.

The initiative aims to reduce the number of successful scams by occupying scammers' time.

Biden's plan to cover Ozempic costs for the obese, potential Trump opposition

The Biden administration proposed expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for weight-loss medications like Ozempic.

Currently, Medicare doesn't cover weight-loss drugs, except for those with heart disease or diabetes.

Officials cite a shift in medical consensus recognizing obesity as a chronic disease.

The timing is strategic, aiming to pressure the incoming Trump administration to finalize the proposal.

Trump's HHS secretary pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., opposes weight-loss drugs.

However, Trump's pick for CMS, Dr. Oz, has expressed support for weight-loss drugs.

Trump's renewed tariff threats on Mexico, Canada, and China

Trump threatens to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China upon taking office.

Claims about increased crime and drug smuggling are misleading; unauthorized border crossings are falling.

Fentanyl seizures increased under Biden, and most fentanyl is smuggled through official crossings by Americans.

Tariffs are paid by importing companies, often passed on to American consumers.

Tariffs on Canada and Mexico would violate existing trade agreements.

Other countries could retaliate with their own tariffs, impacting trade relations.

Walmart is removing DEI terminology and related initiatives from its operations.

Other companies are following suit, purging DEI language from their materials.

Conservative backlash, lawsuits, and changing public opinion contribute to the decline.

Pew Research shows a slight decrease in worker support for DEI initiatives.

A Rutgers University study suggests DEI materials may increase perceptions of prejudice.

Large protests in Islamabad demand the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Imran Khan's background and rise to power are explained.

Khan's removal from office and arrest on corruption charges are detailed.

The protests' intensity and the government's response are described.

Reports of casualties and violence on both sides are included.