THE SMALL TALK

ENTERTAINMENT: Rihanna is finally making her comeback.

After nearly a decade, Rihanna has confirmed that her long-awaited ninth album, R9, is in the works. She has been in the studio for years but says she only recently ‘cracked the code’ on the sound she wants. It won’t be what people expect or designed for commercial radio. And while fans were hoping for a major live return, she has reportedly scrapped plans for a London concert residency, deciding the timing isn’t right.

TRAVEL: EasyJet pilot suspended after flying too close to a mountain.

In another plane incident, this time thankfully not tragic, an EasyJet pilot has been suspended after flying dangerously close to a mountain while approaching Egypt. The plane’s warning system went off, and the pilot quickly adjusted course to avoid disaster. Passengers had no idea how close they were. Captain Paul Elsworth reported the incident himself and has been taken off duty while an investigation is underway.

FASHION: H&M’s Spring 2025 campaign taps Tyla, FKA twigs, and Caroline Polachek.

H&M has been setting the standard for high street fashion lately. While we wait for the Magda Butrym collection, the brand is keeping things interesting with two major spring drops. The Spring 2025 campaign brings together Tyla, FKA twigs, and Caroline Polachek in a mix of festival-inspired bohemia and modern silhouettes. Meanwhile, H&M Studio’s SS25 collection takes ’80s power dressing to Miami and LA, with sharp tailoring, bold swimwear, and statement accessories.

TECH: Apple vs the UK government.

Apple is taking on the UK government in a secret High Court hearing this Friday over demands to access encrypted user data. The Home Office says it is necessary for national security, but Apple argues it would compromise privacy and security. In response, the company has already pulled its Advanced Data Protection from the UK. Privacy groups are pushing for the hearing to be public, calling it a major issue for data security.

• We’ve seen Louis Vuitton x Murakami, but here are the other designer collabs you need to know about in 2025.

• Did Jason Isaacs use a prosthetic in the latest episode of The White Lotus?

• Domestic travel in the US is slowing down as airlines lower their earnings forecasts.

• Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is joining Tom Holland in the next Spider-Man movie.

• Trump's tariffs could make several everyday goods more expensive for Americans.

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