Neymar, the veteran forward for Brazil, will not participate in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina due to a thigh injury, according to an announcement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

The 33-year-old star has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he was sidelined by a knee injury. His absence has now paved the way for a young talent, Real Madrid striker Endrick, to take his place in the squad.

Taking to Instagram, Neymar expressed his disappointment regarding the situation, saying, “The return felt so close, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to wear the most important jersey in the world at this moment.” He described the process leading up to this decision, stating, “We had extensive discussions, and everyone is aware of my desire to come back. However, we have agreed that it’s best to avoid any risks and focus on thorough recovery.”

Brazil’s national team is scheduled to face Colombia in Brasília on March 20, followed by a match against Argentina in Buenos Aires five days later. Currently sitting at fifth place in the 10-team South American qualification group, Brazil has accumulated 18 points from 12 matches, placing them seven points behind group leaders Argentina.

Neymar has recently shown glimpses of his outstanding form since returning to Santos, his original club, from Al-Hilal in January. In his seven appearances for Santos, he has scored three goals, which includes a spectacular direct strike from a corner, and he has provided three assists in the Brazilian top flight.

In addition to Neymar’s injury update, the CBF revealed two notable roster changes: Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri will replace Manchester City’s Ederson, while Flamengo defender Alex Sandro steps in for right-back Danilo.

Endrick, having made 13 appearances for Brazil and scoring three goals, has had a notable season at Real Madrid, where he has netted six goals in 28 outings. His inclusion in the national team marks a significant moment for the promising young attacker as Brazil continues its quest for World Cup qualification.

Apple has launched a new app named ‘Surveyor’, aimed at collecting real-world mapping data to improve the precision and richness of Apple Maps. The app is reported to gather crucial information such as street signs, traffic signals, and other roadside elements to ensure that Apple Maps stays current and accurate.

Unlike Apple’s typical consumer applications, Surveyor is not available to the public. It seems to be developed specifically for partner companies involved in mapping projects. When users download the app, they are prompted to “Open Partner App,” which takes them to a separate application called Premise.

Premise is a third-party platform that rewards users for participating in various activities, including surveys and reporting local information like construction updates, or taking photographs of specific locations.

App strings discovered in Surveyor indicate that when users receive a mapping task through Premise, they will be instructed to mount their iPhone, switch it to landscape mode, and take photos along a designated driving route. This functionality suggests a systematic approach to gathering data on road infrastructure, which is subsequently sent to Apple to aid in accurately positioning elements on the map.

This strategy illustrates Apple’s intent to utilize crowdsourced data collection as a means to refine its mapping services and keep vital map details updated. Although Premise is not officially recognized as an Apple Maps partner, the connection between the two apps signifies a collaborative effort to maintain ongoing updates to Apple Maps.

Through this initiative, Apple appears to be adopting community-driven data collection methods that could enhance its mapping ecosystem, competing with similar approaches employed by Google Maps and Waze. As Apple works to improve Apple Maps, the Surveyor app could embody a wider movement towards AI-enhanced, real-time mapping upgrades, ensuring that users benefit from more precise and detailed navigation capabilities. This effort aligns with Apple’s broader ambitions in the mapping domain and highlights an innovative direction for future enhancements.

Grammy-winning rapper Jay Rock, famed for his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, was arrested this week. The 39-year-old artist was taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department officers in the Watts area on Thursday at around 6 PM.

Born Johnny Reed McKinzie III, the LA native was apprehended on a felony weapons charge. He was initially found trespassing and drinking in public near the Nickerson Gardens housing complex. In an attempt to evade capture, he dashed away from his vehicle but was soon apprehended by the officers. A search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm, leading to his booking into a Los Angeles jail on charges of felony possession. He was held overnight after being booked just after 8 PM.

According to reports, McKinzie has ties to the housing complex, having grown up there alongside Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony Tiffith.

This isn’t Jay Rock’s first encounter with the law. He was previously arrested in 2009 in connection with a shooting in his neighborhood but was later exonerated. Additionally, he survived a serious motorcycle accident in 2016 that left him with a shattered pelvis and leg. Reflecting on that incident, he stated to Billboard, “I was just doing what real dudes do. I was on my bike. Accidents happen,” and credited his recovery to divine protection, saying, “It took me a couple weeks to get back out here ’cause you know, you can’t bring a strong one down.”

The impact of the accident is also featured in the title track of his 2018 album, “Redemption,” which includes collaborations with artists like SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Future, J. Cole, and Jeremih. In promoting the album, he shared how music transformed his life, explaining, “I was speaking on my experience, my trials and tribulations in the hood when I started rapping. The hood was always bringing me back and I was doing bulls**t. I just fell in love with the music, man. The music just took control. It really saved my life.”

Jay Rock is also a founding member of the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside fellow West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and ScHoolboy Q, all of whom signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Although the group has not released new music together in recent years following Lamar’s departure from TDE, the members continue to collaborate on solo projects. They reunited for a special concert titled ‘The Pop-Out: Ken and Friends’ in June 2024, celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month.

Amid rumors surrounding a potential TDE breakup following Lamar’s exit from the label in 2022, Jay Rock addressed these speculations in a 2023 interview with DJ Whoo Kid, clarifying, “We all good, though. The family, TDE family, despite what everybody’s saying — the breakup — everybody’s all good.” He emphasized his enduring bond with Kendrick Lamar, noting, “That’s my little brother. Ain’t nothing changed.”

Jay Rock has collaborated frequently with Kendrick Lamar on tracks like “Money Trees,” “Hood Gonna Love It,” and “King’s Dead,” the latter of which featured on the Black Panther soundtrack and won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. He also joined forces with Anderson. Paak for “Lockdown” and made headlines for participating in protests against the death of George Floyd.