BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently stepped away from her packed schedule to visit Punch, the viral monkey, during a trip to Japan.

The singer and actor stopped by Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, located just outside Tokyo, over the weekend on Saturday March 7. While there, she shared photos from the visit, including moments where she saw the monkey that has recently captured attention online.

Punch is a young macaque who gained widespread attention on social media after videos showed him being picked on by other monkeys in his enclosure. Zoo staff later gave him a plush toy for comfort, and he has since been seen carrying the stuffed animal around almost constantly.

During her visit, Lisa brought along a stuffed orange orangutan that closely resembled Punch’s own toy. She was seen lifting it up so the baby macaque could notice it from his enclosure.

She also shared her excitement about the trip through Instagram Stories, uploading several photos of herself posing with the plush toy.

The outing comes during an especially busy stretch for Lisa, who recently reunited with her fellow BLACKPINK members to release a long awaited EP titled ‘DEADLINE’.

The project, described as a mini album, includes last summer’s popular single ‘Jump’ along with additional tracks titled ‘Me And My’, ‘Go’, ‘Champion’, and ‘Fxxxboy’.

The release follows the group’s return to the stage for a huge stadium tour last year after Lisa, Rosé, Jisoo and Jennie had each focused on their own solo projects in previous years.

Lisa is also continuing to build her acting career. She is currently working on a new film titled Tygo in South Korea and has been rumored to join a Netflix romantic comedy inspired by Notting Hill.

She previously landed a major role in the third season of the HBO series The White Lotus, where she appears alongside Patrick Schwarzenegger, Walton Goggins, Aimee Lee Wood, Jason Isaacs and several other cast members.

 
 
Harry Styles has reached a new zenith in his career, achieving his biggest opening week to date and securing a rare Official Chart Double. His fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally., has stormed to Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, while the lead single "American Girls" simultaneously claimed the top spot on the Official Singles Chart.

A Career-Defining Debut

According to Official Charts Company data, Styles’ latest LP shifted over 183,000 units in its first seven days. This phenomenal result comfortably eclipsed the debut of his previous blockbuster, Harry’s House, and stands as the biggest opening week for a male solo artist since Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide) in 2017.

The record’s physical appeal was equally staggering; Styles achieved his personal best on vinyl with over 66,000 copies sold, making it the fastest-selling vinyl of 2026. This surge in "Harry-mania" even pulled Harry’s House back into the Top 40 at Number 31.

11 Weeks of British Brilliance

Styles’ success is the crowning achievement of a historic run for homegrown talent. For the first time in a decade, the Number 1 album position has been held exclusively by British artists for the first 11 weeks of the year. Harry joins an elite line of 2026 chart-toppers including Olivia Dean, Robbie Williams, Louis Tomlinson, Charli xcx, Mumford & Sons, and Gorillaz.

Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts Company, hailed the milestone, noting that British talent is "more than holding its own" in the global stratosphere. This domestic dominance aligns with a recent BPI report showing UK recorded music revenue has hit a record high of £1.57bn.

Singles Round-Up

Beyond the top spot, Styles dominated the Singles Chart with two additional tracks, "Aperture" (4) and "Ready, Steady, Go!" (5), landing in the Top 5. Elsewhere, a viral "Gymskin" influencer trend propelled Madonna’s "Into The Groove" back into the Top 20 for the first time since 1985, while Tame Impala and BLACKPINK’s JENNIE scored a new peak at Number 17 with "Dracula."
CONTINUE READING