Mel B says Spice Girls documentary could happen, but 'not everybody wants to be honest'

Netflix is interested in aSpice Girlsdocumentary, but pulling back the curtain might just be "too much" for certain members.

Entertainment Weekly Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, and Melanie Chisholm in 1997Credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Melanie "Mel B" Brown, a.k.a. Scary Spice, seemingly confirmed the rumors that the streaming platform had approached the iconic 1990s girl group — and she hinted at what's potentially holding up the project.

"I think we've all been asked and were all thinking about it at some point," Brown revealed in a new interview withHELLO!. "But it has to be done in the right way, and it has to be honest — and not everybody wants to be honest."

Brown doesn't specify who that "not everybody" might be — though the "Girl Power" group's dynamics have always been, well, spicy. Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell abruptly quit the group in 1998 at the height of their success and right in the middle of their first global tour.

The Spice Girls in 1998Credit: Mike Prior/Getty

A decade later, all five members reunited for a tour across the United States and Europe. But 10 years later, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham did not join the group for their2019 reunion tourin the U.K.

For the 30th anniversary of the group's 1996 debut single, "Wannabe," fansreally reallywanted the Spice Girls to announce a reunion tour. But all hope was recently dashed when both Brown and Melanie "Mel C" Chisholm (a.k.a. "Sporty Spice") publiclydispelled the rumors.

"I can tell you it's not happening," Mel B confirms to HELLO!.

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"If it does, it'll be a shock to me, let's put it that way," continued theAmerica's Got Talentjudge. "When I look at that [touring] and at the feeling it gave me, I was in my element, but there comes a time… I'm 50. You can't be nagging everyone to go on tour if they don't want to. I laid that to rest when I turned 50."

But what if the other four Spice Girls did ultimately say they'd be there?

The reunited Spice Girls in 2007Credit: MJ Kim/Spice Girls LLP via Getty

"I honestly don't know," admits Mel B. "I've got a lot of respect and love for those girls. I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for me being part of the Spice Girls. They've done a lot for me as a person and in my life. I've got fond memories, but I don't know if I would want to go back up on stage."

Interestingly, Brown was the lone member of the group not present at the Spice Girls'most recent reunion, when Sporty, Posh, Ginger, and Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton all gathered in February to sing their 1998 ballad "Viva Forever" with Beckham's son Cruz on acoustic guitar.

Despite the ups and downs of the quintet's 30-year friendship, it will always be "Viva Forever," says Mel B.

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"I can't even begin to tell you what our bond is — it's just something that will always be there," she tells HELLO!. "We're like family; our umbilical cords are all tied together."

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Mel B says Spice Girls documentary could happen, but 'not everybody wants to be honest'

Netflix is interested in aSpice Girlsdocumentary, but pulling back the curtain might just be "too much" for cer...
Josh Brolin Announces Son Trevor's Engagement to Kristin Wood-Hegner

Josh Brolin announced his son Trevor Brolin's engagement to Kristin Wood-Hegner on April 3

People Josh Brolin; Trevor Brolin and Kristin Wood-HegnerCredit: Rebecca Sapp/Getty;Josh Brolin/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

  • "I'm so happy for you both," the actor wrote in part on Instagram

  • The couple keeps their relationship private and resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Josh Brolin's eldest child is engaged.

The 58-year-old actor announced his sonTrevor Brolin's engagement to Kristin Wood-Hegner onInstagramon Friday, April 3.

"To see you in full adulthood stops me in my tracks, especially when moments like these happen: massive emotional milestones," Josh captioned a smiling selfie of the couple. In the photo, which was set to The Temptations' "My Girl," Wood-Hegner rests her left hand on Trevor's chest, with her unique engagement ring on full display.

TheWeaponsstar continued, "I'm so happy for you both. Happy happy engagement. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ @funtonofun @kristinhas2is."

Trevor Brolin and Kristin Wood-HegnerCredit: Josh Brolin/Instagram

Josh has four children. He shares son Trevor, 37, and daughter Eden, 31, with his ex-wife, Alice Adair, and daughters Westlyn, 7, and Chapel, 5, with his wife,Kathryn Boyd Brolin.

Kathryn, 38, commented, "❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️."

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Trevor and his fiancée both have private Instagram accounts, and have kept their relationship out of the spotlight. They reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The links in Trevor's Instagram bio indicate that he works atRevel, an Albuquerque entertainment agency offering music venues, restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, Wood-Hegner is the Director of Grant Administration at the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, according to herLinkedInprofile. Her duty is to "manage federal and state funds to address sexual assault and child abuse" throughout the state.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Over the years, Josh has raved about his son.

In a birthday tribute in June 2024, Josh said onInstagramthat his life "changed" for the better when Trevor was born. He wrote in part, "From LA through the desert to Arizona then again on the road to NY. Back to Colorado Springs, Paso, Prescott, France -- you've been dragged everywhere and all for the better for who you are is diamond. You will always be the beginning of what I consider the real start to my life. Your mom and I are so proud of the kind character you are today."

Similarly, for Trevor's birthday two years earlier, Josh wrote onInstagram, "Trevor, my first born. I cannot express the depths of my respect for you." He continued, "Your life I can only stand back from most of the time and watch with great pride, and when I'm in there, frolicking with you, two grown men regressed and laughing at the humor we've cultivated so between each other, I melt. I don't know anybody like you and I love it that way. You've never seen things in a way that hasn't moved or awed me, and to be your dad, man, is the greatest lottery I could ever win. I love you so much."

Read the original article onPeople

Josh Brolin Announces Son Trevor's Engagement to Kristin Wood-Hegner

Josh Brolin announced his son Trevor Brolin's engagement to Kristin Wood-Hegner on April 3 NEED TO KNOW ...
Goo Goo Dolls cancels third show in a row after singer falls ill

It's been a rough week forGoo Goo Dollsfans.

USA TODAY

The Grammy-nominated rock band, which is currently on aNorth American tour, canceled its concert in Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, April 2, after lead singerJohn Rzeznikwas diagnosed with pneumonia, the band announced on itsofficial social media channels.

The scrapped performance follows two show cancellations earlier in the week.

"With sorrow and gratitude, we must cancel tonight's show at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, [Ontario]," the band wrote. "We plan to resume the rest of our Canadian run and hope to see fans this Saturday in London, [Ontario]. All tickets for tonight's show will be refunded at the place of purchase."

USA TODAY has reached out to the Goo Goo Dolls' representatives for additional comment.

John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during SiriusXM and Pandora's "PopRocks the Holidays" event at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Dec. 9, 2025.

On Monday, the band shared with fans that it would becanceling its showat the GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, "due to illness," followed by asimilar announcementfor the group's Wednesday show at the Tribute Communities Centre. At the time of Wednesday's cancellation, the band said there were still plans to play the Hamilton concert, prior to Rzeznik's diagnosis.

Rzeznik, 60, reflected on his love of touring in a2022 interviewwith USA TODAY.

"No matter how divided this country seems to be, whenever they come into where we're playing, we've all got one thing in common," Rzeznik said at the time. "That's a good place to start. That's what I like about live music. We're all singing the same song."

The Goo Goo Dolls' next concert is scheduled for Saturday at the Canada Life Place in London, Ontario, according to the band'sofficial website.

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John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls interview:Rocker recalls vocal cord scare

<p style=The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliott told USA TODAY the band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."

Dates: Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The Americana sweetheart is supporting her eighth studio album – and first solo project in four years – "Returning to Myself," released in October. She'll be joined by The Head and the Heart.

Dates: Feb. 10 (Philadelphia) – March 6 (San Francisco). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The hip-hop maven embarks on her Little Miss Drama Tour – its name drawn from her second studio album that released in September – for more than 30 dates. It's her first tour in six years and her first arena outing.

Dates: Feb. 11 (Palm Desert, California) – April 18 (Atlanta). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The Mayhem Ball was unequivocally the most spectacular road show of 2025. The indefatigable Gaga is back for a second North American leg that will hit some new cities (Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC) and return her captivating pop-opera to others (Los Angeles, New York) because of insatiable demand.

Dates: Feb. 14 (Glendale, Arizona) – April 13 (New York). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Following the major success of his fourth studio album, "Wishbone," which bore the dreamy "This Song" and "Vodka Cranberry," the sensitive singer-songwriter will circle North American arenas with Esha Tewari before heading to Europe and Australia.

Dates: Feb. 19 (Minneapolis) – March 20 (Los Angeles). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Following the recent release of his sixth album, "With Heaven on Top," the alt-country singer-songwriter will launch another slate of stadium shows to promote the 25-song effort. He's also tapped a heady supporting cast: Kings of Leon and Ben Howard, Alabama Shakes and Caamp.

Dates: March 7 (St. Louis) - Oct. 10 (Auburn, Alabama). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Country megastar Combs has produced a stadium-sized career, and he'll fill those venues on his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour, which kicks off the day after his new album, "The Way I Am," arrives. Combs tapped guest performers – Dierks Bentley, The Script, Thomas Rhett, Thelma & James, among others – for various dates.

Dates: March 21 (Las Vegas) – June 6 (Toronto). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The forthright British songbird hasn't toured North America since 2018, and is only doing nine concerts before heading back to the U.K. this summer. But she'll make them memorable. Her Lily Allen Performs West End Girl will find her performing her intense new album, "West End Girl," start to finish.

Dates: April 3 (Chicago) – April 28 (San Francisco). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Florence Welch – an ever-captivating and a dazzling stage presence – will lead her band through a romp inspired by her sixth album, "Everybody Scream," released on Halloween. She'll be joined by Rachel Chinouriri, Sofia Isella and other artists on varying dates.

Dates: April 8 (Minneapolis) – May 20 (Los Angeles). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=It's been four years since Lovato's last major outing and she's primed to bring her nearly two decades (!) of hits to 23 cities. Touring behind last year's "It's Not That Deep," which marked her return to pop, Lovato will welcome ADÉLA as her special guest.

Dates: April 8 (Charlotte) – May 25 (Houston). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=While he hasn't headlined a tour since 2017, the song-and-dance man has hardly been idle. He's helmed a popular Vegas residency and club opening as well as moonlighting with Silk Sonic and appearing on hits with Lady Gaga and Rosé. His grand return for The Romantic Tour – his fourth album, "The Romantic," – will play nearly 70 stadium shows across North America and Europe and was met with instant sellouts.

Dates: April 10 (Las Vegas) – Oct. 17 (Vancouver). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Cue the eardrum-shattering screams because the K-pop conquerors are back. A 70-plus date world tour featuring an in-the-round stage should sate the BTS Army, especially since it's the group's first headline tour since 2022. A new record, "Arirang," is also expected this year.

Dates: April 25 (Tampa) - Sept. 6 (Los Angeles). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The effervescent ska-punk of the "Tragic Kingdom" quartet will meld with the remarkable technology at Sphere Las Vegas for what is sure to be a colorful show. Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young have 18 performances set at the venue to host their cache of '90s and '00s smashes.

Dates: May 6 - June 13 (Las Vegas). More here. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The voice behind the ubiquitous "Ordinary" released his full-length debut album, "You'll Be Alright, Kid," in July (with Jelly Roll and Rosé popping on a couple of songs). He'll parlay his burgeoning success on his Little Orphan Alex Live tour with a run of 28 North American amphitheaters and arenas.

Dates: May 25 (Nashville) - July 28 (Cheyenne, Wyoming). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The Australian pop-rockers show their sense of humor on new album "Everyone's a Star!" with the single "Boyband." They'll take their polished riffs to Europe in the early part of the year before hitting more than three dozen arenas and amphitheaters in North America.

Dates: May 29 (Uncasville, Connecticut) - Aug. 28 (Mountain View, California). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The global superstar broke through in a major way with "LUX," her fourth full-length album released in November featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, Björk, Carminho and Estrella Morente, among others. Her LUX Tour 2026 will play 42 arena shows in 17 countries.  

Dates: June 4 (Miami) - July 3 (San Diego). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=It's a long way from "Wicked" as Grande embarks on her first tour in six years. The album she's ostensibly supporting, "Eternal Sunshine," arrived in March 2024, but Grande spent the last couple of years exploring her acting interests and hinted that she will return to that path following this excursion.

Dates: June 6 (Oakland, California) – Aug. 6 (Chicago). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Even Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were surprised at the demand that met the first seven dates they announced on their Fifty Something tour, their first since 2015. Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Neil Peart died in 2020, but the Canadian rockers will be joined by Anika Nilles behind the kit.

Dates: June 7 (Los Angeles) – Dec. 17 (Vancouver). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Following a spate of shows in Australia and South America, the affable Sheeran will land in North America for a stadium run. Sheeran is rocking a pink-hued motif for the tour in support of his eighth studio album, "Play," which spawned the hits "Azizam," "Sapphire" and "Camera."

Dates: June 13 (Glendale, Arizona) – Nov. 7 (Tampa). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Jon Bon Jovi was extremely candid in the band's fulfilling Hulu documentary, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story," about the devastating vocal cord issues that robbed him of his singing voice. But following surgery and intensive rehab, one of rock's greatest frontmen and the rest of his Jersey boys are ready to rock again with a nine-show residency at Madison Square Garden before heading to Ireland and the U.K. for another handful of shows.

Dates: July 7-26 (New York). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=It's been quite the whirlwind year for the young London native, whose second album, "The Art of Loving," earned her a best new artist Grammy nomination and commandeered radio with the soulful pop of "Man I Need" and "Nice to Each Other." Her The Art of Loving Live tour is her most ambitious as she plays all arenas for the first time.

Dates: July 10 (San Francisco) – Aug. 29 (Austin, Texas). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Two decades after steamrolling through venues with their Carnival of Sins tour, Motley Crue is resurrecting the explosive production for its 20th anniversary as well as the 45th anniversary of the band. The Return of the Carnival of Sins – featuring updated staging and set lists – will hit 33 cities with Tesla and Extreme in tow.

Dates: July 17 (Burgettstown, Pennsylvania) – Sept. 26 (Ridgefield, Washington). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The band – Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Slash, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Isaac Carpenter and Melissa Reese – have returned to their road warrior ways following a 2025 world tour and a 2026 that finds them roaring through South America and Europe before journeying to North America. Among GNR's dates is a Sept. 5 return to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, their first time playing the stadium in more than 30 years.   

Dates: July 24 (Raleigh, North Carolina) – Aug. 22 (Las Vegas). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Their last stadium tour, the 2023-24 Everything or Nothing at All run, sold out stadiums worldwide. The Foos – Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee and Ilan Rubin – will go another round in 12 (for now, they say) North American cities this summer. Queens of the Stone Age will open all dates except Sept. 12 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Dates: Aug. 4 (Toronto) – Sept. 26 (Las Vegas). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The celebration continues for the emo-punk-rockers, who last year kickstarted an anniversary tour to revisit their standout 2006 rock opera, "The Black Parade." Skits and costumes are prevalent as the band – Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Mikey Way and Frank Iero – tears through their landmark album in full before a second set of ragers.

Dates: Aug. 9 (New York) – Oct. 31 (Hollywood, California). More here.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Who is on tour in 2026? Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, BTS, Rush and more

The veteran British glam rockers will be asking Las Vegas, "Do you wanna get rocked?" at their new dozen-concert residency at Caesars Palace. Singer Joe Elliotttold USA TODAYthe band wants to keep some "mystique" about show plans but, "Vegas will have a new concept."Dates:Feb. 3 - Feb. 28 (Las Vegas).More here.

Goo Goo Dolls fans send John Rzeznik well-wishes after concert canellations

Following the band's most recent cancellation, several fans took to social media to wish Rzeznik good health, while some bemoaned the last-minute notice.

"Wow. I cancelled my flight last night around midnight 'cause I had a bad feeling. Glad I trusted my gut," @hansongirlwrote on Instagram. "Hope John feels better soon."

"It's really hard out here for musicians. But health comes first, and people will understand," @shedancescatharsis commented. "Just come back later, ideally in warmer weather, so you can really enjoy our country and feel your best."

John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during SiriusXM and Pandora's "PopRocks the Holidays" event at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Dec. 9, 2025.

"I hope he feels better soon, but can we make these announcements earlier?" @symphanie_ wrote. "I just drove [two] hours to get to Hamilton."

"Please announce in the morning for Saturday's concert in London," @wilslisa commented. "Lots of people traveling and need to know ahead of time."

"Yikes! Pneumonia is no joke," @shannberg wrote. "Please focus on your health [and] recovery, John — your fans love ya [and] understand!"

Contributing: Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Goo Goo Dolls cancels concerts after John Rzeznik gets pneumonia

Goo Goo Dolls cancels third show in a row after singer falls ill

It's been a rough week forGoo Goo Dollsfans. The Grammy-nominated rock band, which is currently on aNorth ...
New Jersey state troopers rescue bear cub from highway ditch

UNION TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — State police troopers came to the rescue of a bear cub found in a ditch along the side of a major interstate highway in northern New Jersey.

Associated Press This photo provided by the New Jersey State Police shows a police officer holding a bear cub that was rescued from a ditch alongside a busy interstate highway in northern New Jersey on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (New Jersey State Police via AP) This photo provided by the New Jersey State Police shows a bear cub that was rescued from a ditch alongside a busy interstate highway in northern New Jersey on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (New Jersey State Police via AP)

Troopers Rescue Bear Cub

Troopers from the Perryville station responded shortly before 1:40 p.m. Wednesday to milepost 12.2 on I-78 eastbound in Union Township. The animal was by itself, officials said.

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The bear was soon safely secured and taken back to the state police barracks, where it was later turned over to staffers with the state's Environmental Protection Department, who were caring for the animal.

It's not clear how the cub ended up in the ditch or how long it had been there before it was spotted. Details on the bear's condition were not available Friday.

New Jersey state troopers rescue bear cub from highway ditch

UNION TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — State police troopers came to the rescue of a bear cub found in a ditch along the side of a m...
Forced from their homes by Israeli bombing, displaced Lebanese face uncertainty and sectarian tensions

ZOUK MOSBEH, Lebanon — Almost made homeless duringIsraeli bombingthat badly damaged her home in Tyre, southern Lebanon, two years ago, Rose El Khoury salvaged what she could and rebuilt.

NBC Universal

Two years later, the home in Tyre that she shared with her husband and three children is a pile of rubble.

"In 2024, it was livable, even though we didn't have the money to fix it," El Khoury, a housewife in her 30s whose husband is serving with the Lebanese army, told NBC News in a telephone interview earlier this week. Today, she said, "my house is on the ground. So there is no hope to return."

El Khoury and her children are among more than 1 million people who have beenforcibly displaced from their homes in Lebanon, mainly in the south, amid a sweeping aerial and ground assault by Israeli forces as Israel looks toestablish a "security zone"there.

'No place to go back'

Israel began its invasion after Iranian proxy group Hezbollah launched strikes on the country from Lebanon in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has escalated into a wider regional conflict.

In the weeks since,fears of a long-term occupation of southern Lebanonhave grown, with Israel moving to establish a buffer zone in the area, leveling homes and destroying bridges over the Litani River, which connects the south to the rest of Lebanon, while taking control of what crossings remain.

Israeli warplanes struck the strategic Qasmiyeh Bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon. (Ali Hashisho / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images)

Israel says the buffer zone is necessary to keep the threat of Hezbollah's rockets away from its border, and its Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that the hundreds of thousands of families displaced from the south will not be able to return to their homes, or what is left of them, until the safety of the residents of northern Israel can be guaranteed.

More than 1,300 people have been killed across Lebanon and over 4,000 injured since the current war began, according to the Lebanese government.

"It is devastating," said El Khoury, who is now living in a single room at a temporary shelter in Sehayleh in the Keserwan District, northeast of Beirut, with her three children, ages 8, 6 and 4. She says they have struggled to get access to enough food and basic supplies.

"There is no place to go back."

Dire circumstances

Humanitarian workers on the ground have described dire circumstances for hundreds of thousands of people displaced across the country, with many sleeping on city streets and in cars in and around the country's capital, Beirut, as aid groups call for more funding to prepare for the possibility of "long-term displacement."

"Even if there was some sort of ceasefire, we already know that there are some regions in the south that have been taken over," Dr. Tania Baban, the Lebanon country director for the Chicago-based nonprofit MedGlobal, told NBC News in a phone interview Friday.

"So, now you have the concern of people who will not be able to — I hope not — but possibly ever go back to their land," she said.

Abbas Bazoun, 46, said he, his wife and their four children have been living out of their van for weeks now after being displaced from their home in Deir Aames in southern Lebanon.

Awatef Bazoun, 6, with her dog. The family now live out of a tent after being displaced from their home in Deir Amess, southern Lebanon. (Courtesy of Abbas Bazoun)

He said they were barred from bringing their family dog into shelters and, refusing to abandon their pet, had little choice but to sleep in their vehicle.

"My dog is very dear to me, and I cannot give him away," said Bazoun. He said his family still had yet to learn whether their home remained intact, but that his small shop selling fruits and vegetables had been destroyed in Israel's offensive.

He said his wife has been left traumatized and suffered a "nervous breakdown" from living through the Israeli fire. "We faced a lot of bombing before we left," he said.

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Sectarian tensions 'brewing'

Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have also warned of growing sectarian tensions, with displaced people being turned away from communities they have sought refuge in over fears they could potentially be Hezbollah members.

Multiple groups, including the United Nations and MedGlobal, previously told NBC News that they had heard of local municipalities seeking to discourage residents from renting homes to displaced people coming from the south over fears they could be targeted if suspected Hezbollah members were among them.

The New York Times separately reported this week that the Israeli military has told leaders of Christian and Druze communities in southern Lebanon that they can remain in evacuation zones, but has pressed them to force out any Lebanese from neighboring Shia Muslim communities seeking refuge in their communities.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on the allegations.

"I think there's a lot of anxiety. There's a lot of concern," Imran Riza, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, said in a phone interview on Friday.

"Compared to 2024, there is much more of a sense of insecurity and tension amongst both the host populations and the displaced population," he said.

Dany Makhlouf, a social activist from Achrafieh, a Christian neighborhood in Beirut, said people there did not want shelters set up in the area after past "issues" during previous rounds of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

He said in some instances, displaced people had "put Hezbollah flags in the schools, which created tensions among the residents."

"Remember, we belong to different political parties, and to us, Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into this war and previous wars," he said.

Israel occupied southern Lebanon until 2000 and has frequently launched attacks on the area in recent decades, striking out at Hezbollah, which was first founded in the 1980s when Israel occupied southern Lebanon following attacks between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli military. Hezbollah has long supported the destruction of Israel.

The Lebanese government vowed in 2024 to disarm the militant group as part of a U.N.-brokered effort to bring the previous conflict to an end, but there has been little progress in doing so since.

Bechara Gholam, the mayor of Rmeil, a Beirut neighborhood in the area of Achrafieh, said there were no shelters for displaced people there.

Gholam said that if displaced people do seek to rent apartments in the area, their names are sent to the government for confirmation that they are not known to be involved in "any activity related to Hezbollah." If they are cleared, Gholam said, "we don't have any problem."

"The security of our neighborhood is a priority to us," the mayor said.

Baban said she was growing increasingly concerned about the "local tension that is brewing" and by reports of Israel trying "to ignite that type of sectarian tension."

Meanwhile, she worried what would happen to displaced families if Israel does press on with a longer-term occupation of southern Lebanon.

"To be honest, we're all hoping for a miracle," she said.

Forced from their homes by Israeli bombing, displaced Lebanese face uncertainty and sectarian tensions

ZOUK MOSBEH, Lebanon — Almost made homeless duringIsraeli bombingthat badly damaged her home in Tyre, southern Lebanon, t...
5.8 magnitude quake hits Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing 8 in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 rattled parts of northern and eastern Afghanistan and western Pakistan late Friday, killing at least eight people in Afghanistan, authorities said.

Associated Press

The region ishighly seismically active,and quakes have caused thousands of deaths in recent years. Friday's earthquake had an epicenter in the Hindu Kush mountain range, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of the Afghan city of Kunduz, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Hafizullah Basharat, a spokesman for the Kabul governor, said eight people were killed and a child was injured when a house collapsed on the outskirts of the capital. He said all were members of the same family.

Kabul is roughly 290 kilometers (180 miles) southwest of the epicenter. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from areas closer to the epicenter. The area is remote, and it can often take several hours before local authorities can relay information back to Kabul.

With the epicenter at a depth of over 180 kilometers, the quake jolted a wide swath of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Pakistan, it was felt in the cities and towns of Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Swat and Shangla, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in Pakistan.

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Afghanistan's Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said Kabul and provincial health authorities had been put on alert.

Last August,a 6.0 earthquakethat struck a remote, mountainous part of eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people, leveling villages and trapping people under rubble. Most casualties were in Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep valleys.

In November,a 6.3 earthquakestruck Samangan province in northern Afghanistan, killing at last 27 people and injuring more than 950. It also damaged historical sites, including Afghanistan's famed Blue Mosque in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, and the Bagh-e-Jahan Nama Palace in Khulm.

On Oct. 7, 2023,a 6.3 quakefollowed by strong aftershocks in western Afghanistan killed thousands of people.

Impoverished Afghanistanoften faces difficulty in responding to natural disasters, especially in remote regions. Many homes in rural and outlying areas are made from mud bricks and wood, with many poorly built.

5.8 magnitude quake hits Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing 8 in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 rattled parts of northern and eastern Afghani...
Illinois basks in Final Four moment, intent on clipping UConn

INDIANAPOLIS -- Forgive Brad Underwood if he takes an extra beat to appreciate the novelty of his weekend surroundings as Illinois returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.

Field Level Media

Ready and waiting, perhaps unimpressed by the pomp and circumstance on the periphery of a third trip to the Final Four in four years, stand UConn and head coach Dan Hurley. And that's the piece of the Fighting Illini itinerary in Indy that Underwood finds painfully familiar.

UConn demolished Illinois 74-61 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28 and waylaid the Illini in the 2024 Elite Eight in Boston, a blowout by every measure that is memorable for the Huskies' 30-0 run and 77-52 final score.

Only senior forward Alex Karaban remains from UConn's previous tournament win over Illinois and the teams are changed in major ways since the November game. But in the days since Illinois defeated No. 9 seed Iowa to win the South, Underwood found a couple of common denominators comparing his losses to UConn's 19-point comeback to defeat East No. 1 seed Duke on Sunday.

"I look at one guy -- well, two. I look at Danny (Hurley) and then I look at Karaban," he said. "Their culture is, I think this is their third Final Four. You understand why they're here. It's never -- things have to go right in a 19-point comeback, and they did. But there was no quit. There was no lay-down. We've talked a lot about that."

UConn (33-5) tournament breakout star Tarris Reed Jr. was coming off of an injury when the teams played earlier this season and All-American Keaton Wagler was a non-factor for Illinois (28-8), serving in a vastly different catch-and-shoot role as a spot-up sniper on the baseline. These days, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year handles the ball on every possession and gets the offense going as a point guard or point forward.

The Most Outstanding Player in the South Region, Wagler had 25 against the Hawkeyes and his best game of the year came in the state. He poured in 46 points on Jan. 24 at Purdue in a national coming-out party that featured 9-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. He led Illinois in scoring 19 times this season.

"It does give you a lot of confidence when they put that much trust in you," Wagler said.

Wagler leads the Illini in scoring (17.9) and assists (4.3), ranks third in rebounding (5.0) and drew praise from UConn for not being a superstar in one sense that you "never see him take bad shots." Wagler played only 14 minutes in the loss to UConn.

Hurley stressed to his newbies in the locker room, which happens to include Indiana kid and Elite Eight hero Braylon Mullins, that the Huskies aren't here to hang a Final Four banner. The participants in the national semifinals receive watches in swag bags this week. Hurley couldn't care less about the timepiece. The treasure Hurley wants the Huskies to focus on can't be dug up until Monday night, and only after winning twice in the Final Four.

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He said Friday he's even willing to embrace the criticism received since he went eyebrow-to-eyebrow with referee Roger Ayers, risking a technical or ejection in the moments after Mullins had his "One Shining Moment" against Duke.

"I'm not a victim. I've done everything. I did what I did," Hurley said. "We don't allow victims in our program, and I'm not a 53-year-old man sitting up here like I'm some victim. I don't want to waste a lot of time with it because it takes away from the team. But for me, the way I view what we're going into in the game, when some people, again, view it as a game, just my family, how I was raised in the sport, where I'm from in Jersey, we look at it more like a battle."

Underwood has attended the Final Four regularly during his 39 years in coaching -- hundreds of college head coaches, assistants, eager recent grads, are in attendance again this weekend -- which culminated in his first trip to the Final Four this week.

He's been openly emotional about the realization of the dream walking around Lucas Oil Stadium and stepping on the elevated court with a fist pump for friends, family and Illini fans in attendance at Friday morning's practice. It was No. 112 for Illinois since the journey began in October and a blatant reminder to Underwood his time for reflection isn't here just yet.

"I'm 62 years old. I was a kid. I grew up watching this event," Underwood said. "You're the kid that's in your driveway shooting hoops and you're going to hit the game winner in the National Championship game. I never got to do that. It's been well-documented my journey has been a little bit different than a lot of people, 26 years to become a head coach and some different paths to get here. You watch it, and you dream. I say this all the time: There's no bigger dreamer than me. You get here, and there's a moment of reflection when we got here. ... There's never a moment lost not thinking about the next game, thinking about maximizing the opportunity. And there will be more time for reflection after this is over."

Karaban has won titles as a complementary piece to the likes of Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer and Donovan Clingan.

He enters Saturday's national semifinal as the second-leading scorer (13.2 points per game) to Reed (14.7) with guards Solo Ball (12.9) and Mullins (11.9) capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night. Karaban had only five points against Duke but assisted on Mullins' buzzer-beater and averaged 22 points in three 2026 NCAA Tournament games before he was tracking Cameron Boozer around the court in the Elite Eight.

Wagler, who turned 19 in February, ascended sharply since he last saw UConn and is projected to be a lottery pick if he opts to depart Illinois -- the only major college program that recruited him out of Mission Northwest High School in Kansas -- after one season. He was still having a few pinch-me moments in the Illinois locker room adorned with player photos and team logos, even asking aloud if he's able to take some of the mementos when Illinois departs the Final Four.

Because the Fighting Illini are in Indy for banners and rings, too, but Underwood doesn't mind a few smiles and fun along the path.

"So there's a lot of excitement, but there's a lot of gratitude for where we are," Illinois senior Ben Humrichous said. "And what gratitude I think does for us and this team is adds an extra energy and effort to each of our moments, even just a focus in our preparation and commitment to our process. For me and a lot of our -- for our team, it's just gratitude, thankful for the moment. So we want to celebrate the success, but then even approaching the game with the respect that it deserves because of the culmination of the efforts up to this point."

--Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Illinois basks in Final Four moment, intent on clipping UConn

INDIANAPOLIS -- Forgive Brad Underwood if he takes an extra beat to appreciate the novelty of his weekend surroundings...

 

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