Israel renews Lebanon strikes, forces Syria border crossing closed

(The Center Square) – A resolution to halt U.S. military hostilities in Iran failed to advance in the U.S. House pro forma session Thursday. 

House Democrats attempted to obtain unanimous consent to pass a War Powers Resolution restricting the Trump administrations’ ability to conduct military operations in Iran without the authorization of Congress. 

The Republican presiding refused to acknowledge the resolution and ended the session, marking the second time since the Iran conflict started that a War Powers Resolution failed in the House.

Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said in a news conference afterward that “things are out of control” in Iran and that President Donld Trump’s “threats of total annihilation were beyond the pale.”

“It’s time for Congress to step in and take control of the wheel,” he said.

Congress never approved the ongoing military hostilities in Iran. A few key members of Congress had received advance notice of the strikes but did not vote to authorize them.

“The only final reconciliation here will be diplomacy,” Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., told reporters. “The Constitution is very clear that the power to declare war rests with the Congress of the United States. That’s what we tried to do this morning.”

The moot attempt comes after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that Senate Democrats will also reintroduce a War Powers Resolution when they return next week.

Though the U.S. and Iran reached a fragile ceasefire on Tuesday, the two countries remain far from reconciled.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. has eliminated Iran's comprehensive air defense system, the defense industrial base and the majority of Iran's Navy.

But actual Iranian regime change, a stated goal of the Trump administration, shows no signs of happening soon. The first joint coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes in February killed Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but one of his sons, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has succeeded him.

When U.S. lawmakers return from recess next week, House Democrats will bring up the War Powers Resolution for an actual vote. They urged Republicans on the fence about the Trump administration’s Iran hostilities to join them.

“This war should never have happened in the first place,” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., said Thursday. “Congress deserves a say, and the American people deserve a say.”

American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline to return to the country since Washington captured leader Nicolas Maduro.

American, which received a US Department of Transportation authorization in early March, said it was continuing to work with authorities in both countries.

"When all government approvals and security checks are complete, American plans to offer daily nonstop service between Miami and Caracas, Venezuela, with Embraer 175 aircraft starting as soon as April 30," the company said in a press release.

The service will be provided by subsidiary Envoy.

"American's Miami hub is the preeminent US gateway to Latin America, and our service to Venezuela is a key part of our history and our future," said the airline's chief commercial officer Nat Pieper.

The United States launched a military raid on January 3 to seize Maduro, killing more than 100 people, according to Caracas.

Since then, US President Donald Trump has backed Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, as Venezuela's interim leader. 

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Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

In a sign that the fear that gripped Venezuelan society under ousted leader Nicolas Maduro has begun to subside, the protesters chanted "Yes, we can!" as they pressed long-standing demands for increases to wages so low that many struggle to survive.

Others shouted "Let's go to Miraflores!" referring to the presidential palace in the center of Caracas.

Dozens of riot police with helmets and shields attempted to drive back the protesters as they made their way through central Caracas, a few kilometers from the presidential palace.

The clashes reflect growing anger in Venezuela over the perceived failure of acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who replaced Maduro after his overthrow in January, to address a cost-of-living crisis.

On Wednesday, she went on television to announce an increase in wages on May 1 but did not disclose the amount.

The monthly minimum wage in Venezuela is 130 bolivars (US$0.27), unchanged since 2022, and roughly 330 times lower than the UN poverty line of $3 a day.

While public sector wages can reach around $150 with government bonuses, they remain a fraction of the $645 that, according to various estimates, families need to cover their basic food needs in the face of annual inflation of over 600 percent.

The protesters demanded increases to baseline salaries and not just to their bonuses, which have been increased in the past even as wages remained stagnant.

"Enough of this deception about salary increases. They want to pass off our government bonuses as a salary. That is completely unheard of," Mauricio Ramos, a 71-year-old retiree, told AFP. 

- Inflation fears -

Rodriguez, who succeeded former leader Nicolas Maduro after his capture by US forces in a January 3 raid, has advocated a "responsible" increase in salaries that does not cause a spike in inflation.

The former vice president received the nod from US President Donald Trump to succeed Maduro, provided she gave Washington access to Venezuelan oil.

Under pressure from Washington to ease repression, she has pushed through several major economic reforms, as well as an amnesty for political prisoners. 

But she faces growing impatience from Venezuelans struggling to pay for food, medicine and other basics.

Thursday's protest was the biggest anti-government demonstration since August 2024, as Venezuelans showing growing assertiveness after largely refraining from protesting over the past two years following successive crackdowns on dissenters.

The August 2024 protests, which followed Maduro's disputed claim of victory in August 2024 presidential elections, were brutally repressed.

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Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs urged an appeals court Thursday to overturn the US hip-hop mogul's prison term of more than four years for prostitution-related crimes. 

Combs, 56, was sentenced in October after a salacious trial that detailed the alleged "freak-offs" he organized: sexual marathons involving hired male escorts and his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura and another unidentified women.

He was acquitted by a jury of the most serious charges against him -- sex trafficking and racketeering -- but convicted of two counts of transporting people across state lines for prostitution.

The disgraced artist was not present at the Manhattan courthouse on Thursday as defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro sought to persuade a three-judge panel that Combs's sentence of four years and two months was unfairly long for his crimes. 

"The evidence the judge was relying on was totally separate and in fact was acquitted conduct," Shapiro said.

She said District Judge Arun Subramanian should not have considered evidence that Combs made threats against Ventura and the other woman as it was related to the acquitted charges.

Prosecutors disagreed and pointed to an instance where Combs showed Ventura he had videos of her engaging in sex parties hours before another "freak-off" in an apparent bid to ensure her continued participation.

"These incidents are specifically tied to transportation," prosecutor Christy Slavik told the court. 

In a sign of the complex legal arguments, Slavik at one point drew an analogy of pizza to highlight how certain "slices" of evidence were relevant to the ultimate sentencing decision.

The court did not issue an immediate ruling in what one judge, William Nardini, called an "exceptionally difficult case."

Combs is also appealing his conviction though that was not discussed in detail on Thursday.

He is being held in the low-security Fort Dix prison in New Jersey and is due for release in spring 2028. 

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(The Center Square) – Around $607 million was stolen from EBT accounts in 2025, according to a new report.

Propel, an EBT benefits tracking program, issued a report that found large amounts of benefit theft from cards used as a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Among people whose benefits were stolen, 56% said they skipped or reduced meals and 43% reported going into further debt.

Jimmy Chen, founder of Propel, told The Center Square most theft occurs when information is stolen from card readers that are installed secretly to steal EBT benefits. He said the theft Propel tracked down is different from the fraud issues the federal government has tracked.

“This is a case that is a little bit distinct from other kinds of national conversations around safety net programs,” Chen said. “It’s actually finding criminals and getting them to stop this.”

EBT cards are one of the last remaining Magstripe cards in the United States. This makes the cards a target for scam card readers where payments are processed.

Over the last year, Propel found 18% of households reported their benefits were stolen, down from 27% in 2025. However, sums of stolen dollars were far larger than previous years. About 64% of households lost more than $250, and 32% lost over $500.

Chen said he has tracked reports of theft at traditional grocery stores, where fraudulent card readers steal EBT benefits from people.

The Trump administration has sought to aggressively pursue fraud across social safety net programs in SNAP. The administration has limited what kinds of food are available to buy as part of SNAP in some states.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, has slammed the SNAP program as being “rife with waste, fraud and abuse.” She has called on states to implement measures to reduce reliance on SNAP benefits and boasted at lower enrollment rates.

Based on data from 28 states, the administration said it has found 186,000 dead people receiving SNAP benefits and 356,000 cases of duplicate enrollments. Rollins boasted of her involvement in the White House Fraud Task Force, led by Vice President JD Vance to tackle issues across SNAP.

“I am eager to work with him to usher in a new era of accountability for taxpayers and for those who truly need this program to survive,” Rollins wrote in an editorial for The Hill.

In 2025, California became the first state to implement chip payments on EBT cards. Propel found the chip feature led to a drop in EBT theft from users across the state. Before implementation, 19% of EBT card users reported theft and 8% reported it after chip payment was added.

“Chip cards are definitely the long-term play to reduce EBT fraud and theft,” Chen said. “California has demonstrated what implementing chip cards can do to reduce EBT theft.

However, Chen said that implementing chip cards can be expensive and take a long time to roll out in certain states. He encouraged state legislatures to implement other security measures to prevent EBT theft, like card locking or blocking out-of-state transactions.

The report found 45% of respondents began to lock their cards when not in use and 39% blocked out-of-state transactions to prevent theft and fraud. Chen said these solutions are not ideal because they still require manual steps.

“We don’t have users of credit cards to have to do that all the time to keep their own money safe so it seems a bit unfair to ask EBT users to do that in perpetuity,” Chen said.

Chen encouraged states to adopt the model of banks and credit card companies to reduce theft of SNAP benefits. He said Propel has been in talks with state governments to build a pilot that tracks suspicious SNAP transactions and classifies them as fraudulent.

“Families do worry about this issue, it’s a big deal,” Chen said. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to make it something that people don’t have to worry about.”

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Rome on the eve of his first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, almost one year after the election of the US pontiff. 

Their meeting at the Vatican on Friday morning comes against the backdrop of the Iran war, for which both men have called for a diplomatic solution.

The French president arrived early evening Thursday in Rome's Trastevere neighbourhood, to visit the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio, the Holy See's informal diplomatic channel that is active in peace efforts and humanitarian issues. 

Asked if he came with a message of peace, Macron replied: "Yes, and also to see my friends at Sant'Egidio", which is run by his friend Andrea Riccardi.

On Friday morning, Macron will meet the French-speaking, Chicago-born pope at the Apostolic Palace for what the Elysee Palace called a "republican and secular visit".

The focus of the visit is on the Vatican, so Macron has no plans to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

It will be the fourth papal audience for the centre-right leader of France, following three with Leo's predecessor, Francis, in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

Macron and Leo have not met before but spoke by phone last May, shortly after the former Robert Francis Prevost was elected by fellow cardinals as head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. 

Then, Macron told the new pontiff he shared "the ambition to reconcile the fight against poverty and the protection of the planet". 

The leaders will address a wide range of topics in Friday's meeting, the Elysee said, from international affairs and the regulation of artificial intelligence, to climate change and humanitarian issues.

- 'Intellectual exchange' - 

The meeting with the discreet and measured Leo may call for a change in style for Macron, who enjoyed a close and direct relationship with the Argentine Francis, whom he even addressed informally.

Vatican expert Marco Politi told AFP the encounter would be more than just a diplomatic meeting, but instead a "personal, intellectual exchange".

With the Trump presidency and the war in Iran, the current geopolitical environment is marked by "brutality and chaos", he said, with Macron and Leo representing leaders who want "to rebuild an international society based on rules".

In recent weeks, Leo has been more outspoken in opposing the foreign policy of US President Donald Trump, calling his threat ahead of this week's ceasefire agreement to wipe out Iran's civilisation "unacceptable". 

Macron, meanwhile, has expressed irritation with Trump, most recently after the Republican's mocking comments about the French leader's marriage. 

According to news reports, Macron may also use Friday's meeting to call for the release of French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who has been imprisoned since June in Algeria, where Leo is due to fly on Monday in a papal first.

- Visit to France? -

Macron's delegation includes the former president of a commission over church sex abuse in France. The commission was never officially received by Pope Francis, despite its 2021 report exposing systemic scale of abuse within the institution.

Amid current debate in France, the issue of assisted dying and euthanasia could also be raised in the meeting between Macron and Leo. 

The Vatican regards euthanasia as a "crime against human life" and assisted dying as a "grave sin", with those resorting to such measures barred from receiving the sacraments. 

A diplomatic source told AFP that Macron is expected to formally invite the pope to France.

Despite having visited France on three occasions -- to Strasbourg, Marseille and Corsica's Ajaccio -- Francis never made a state visit to the country, and declined to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2024. 

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Do immigrants get free healthcare?

Immigrants don’t automatically get free healthcare in the United States. Some people may qualify for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or certain state programs, but eligibility depends on their status, state rules, and a number of other factors.

Many others get coverage through an employer, a school, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, or a private plan—in the same way that most U.S. citizens do.

Everyone in the U.S., regardless of citizenship or immigration status, has the right, under federal law, to emergency medical treatment. That, however, is different from ongoing healthcare for preventative treatment or disease management.

Starting Oct. 1, 2026, some Medicaid and CHIP rules affecting noncitizens will change. CMS has outlined the main restrictions and exceptions, but it has also said more guidance is coming, so the impact may depend on your immigration status and the state where you live. These changes are tied to the 2025 federal law commonly called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).

Manifest Law breaks down who may qualify for public health programs, how immigration status affects eligibility, and what recent federal changes mean for noncitizens.

Key takeaways

• Immigrants do not automatically get free healthcare in the United States.
• Some immigrants may qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, Emergency Medicaid, or state-funded programs, depending on their immigration status, income, where they live, and other factors.
• Many immigrants and nonimmigrants get health insurance through work, school, the ACA Marketplace, or a private plan.
• Undocumented immigrants generally do not qualify for fully funded (free) Medicaid, but some may qualify for Emergency Medicaid or local programs.

Some immigrants may qualify, but healthcare is not free

The term “immigrants” can be used to refer to many different types of people living in the U.S. There are lawful permanent residents, nonimmigrants, asylees, refugees, undocumented immigrants, and others.

Some may be eligible for certain healthcare programs, but not all immigrants have access to the same health coverage options.

Why healthcare isn’t free

Although some people qualify for government programs or other lower-cost options, healthcare isn’t free for immigrants.

In many cases, a person must still meet eligibility rules for income and immigration status, and the coverage itself likely isn’t fully free. Some programs require copays or other out-of-pocket costs, while others only cover a limited amount of care, which is different from full, ongoing health insurance.

What affects healthcare eligibility?

Eligibility can depend on an individual’s:

• Age
• Income
• Immigration status
• The state where they live
• Whether they’re pregnant
• Whether they have a disability
• Who is in their household

Can immigrants get Medicaid?

Medicaid is available to certain categories of immigrants, but they must also meet income requirements and other eligibility rules under federal and state law.

Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and states, but states run their own programs within federal rules. That means there are national baseline rules under federal law, but states have some flexibility to decide whether to cover additional groups or services.

Who is eligible for Medicaid?

According to the Congressional Research Service, qualified noncitizens who may be eligible for Medicaid include:

• Lawful permanent residents
• Refugees
• People granted asylum or related relief
• Certain parolees
• Certain abused spouses and children
• Cuban-Haitian entrants
• Citizens of the Freely Associated States living in the United States

Even within these categories, not everyone can get Medicaid right away.

What is the 5-year rule?

The five-year rule refers to the five years that many green card holders must wait before they can receive full federally funded Medicaid.

Certain individuals are exempt from the five-year rule, including, but not strictly limited to:

• Refugees
• Asylees
• Certain trafficking survivors
• Some veterans and military family members
• Some lawfully residing children
• Some pregnant individuals

Whether someone is subject to the five-year rule differs significantly from one state to another, since federal law allows states to choose whether to cover some people.

Do undocumented immigrants get free healthcare?

In most cases, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for full federally funded Medicaid. They also are not generally eligible to enroll in marketplace coverage through Healthcare.gov. They may have access to limited emergency care and, in some places, limited state or local programs, but not the same broad coverage options available to many citizens or lawfully present immigrants.

This is despite the fact that a large portion of undocumented immigrants do file and pay taxes, using an ITIN number, even though they’re not eligible for a refund or many of the benefits funded by these taxes.

Emergency Medicaid for undocumented immigrants

Federal Medicaid law does allow payment for limited emergency services for certain people who are otherwise ineligible for full Medicaid coverage, if they meet all the other Medicaid eligibility requirements in their state. This is commonly called Emergency Medicaid. It is not the same as full health insurance coverage, and it does not replace regular access to preventive or ongoing care.

Some undocumented immigrants may also be able to get emergency medical care through:

• Emergency rooms under the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)
• Community health centers
• Migrant health centers
• State-funded or local coverage programs, where available

Do nonimmigrants receive free healthcare?

Nonimmigrants, including many people on work, student, or other temporary visas, don’t receive free public healthcare just because they’re in the United States.

Some may qualify as lawfully present for marketplace purposes, which can allow them to buy coverage through the ACA (also known as Obamacare) Marketplace if they meet the rules. But that is not the same thing as automatic free coverage.

Many nonimmigrants get health coverage through:

• An employer
• A school or university
• A private health insurance plan
• Marketplace coverage, if eligible

Many temporary workers, such as those on an O-1 visa or H-1B visa, and students purchase healthcare coverage through their employer or school.

How employer-sponsored plans benefit immigrants

For many immigrants and nonimmigrants who live and work in the United States, health insurance comes through a job, just as it does for American citizens.

Employer-sponsored plans are not free, but they may be subsidized because the employer often pays part of the premium. The employee may still have payroll deductions, copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. That means this kind of coverage can be more affordable than buying a private plan through the marketplace, but it is not “free healthcare.”

State programs for immigrant healthcare

State rules can make a major difference in what healthcare programs are available to immigrants living there.

Federal rules set the baseline, but states often have more generous options for certain groups or people. Some states also fund their own programs for residents who would not qualify for full federal coverage.

Immigrants seeking health coverage should always check the guidelines for programs run by the state where they live.

Here are a few examples of state or city programs:

• New York City: NYC says immigrants can access low- and no-cost city health services regardless of immigration status, and the city points people to options including NYC Care, which offers services for people who do not qualify for or cannot afford insurance. New York City and New York State offer broader health coverage and options to access medical care than many other parts of the country.
• California: California has some of the broadest immigrant health coverage policies in the country. Covered California says people can qualify for coverage regardless of immigration status. Current state guidance also says children can qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. (California’s rules changed in 2026, so new enrollment in full-scope Medi-Cal is no longer available for adults with certain immigration statuses.)
• Texas: Texas Health and Human Services says nonqualified or undocumented immigrants are generally not eligible for ongoing Medicaid, but may qualify for Emergency Medicaid if they meet other eligibility requirements and have an emergency medical condition.
• Florida: Florida is also more limited in its general Medicaid rules. State materials say noncitizens who meet all Medicaid factors except citizenship status may be eligible for Medicaid to cover medical emergencies, including childbirth. Florida does separately offer Refugee Health Program services, including health assessments for eligible refugees and certain related groups.

The takeaway is that some areas offer broader state- or locally funded healthcare, while others mainly provide emergency-only coverage unless a person fits into a specific eligibility category.

Always check eligibility rules in your city and state. Medicaid and CHIP rules vary by state, but some states or cities offer more coverage than others. Some areas also offer local clinics that offer low-cost care if insurance isn’t available or programs for specific populations, such as children or refugees.

How to apply for Medicaid or other health coverage

If you think you may qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or another health coverage program, these are typically the first steps:

• Check your state Medicaid website. Medicaid and CHIP are run at the state level, so your state agency is usually the best place to confirm eligibility and apply.
• See whether your state uses the Marketplace application. In some cases, people start through the ACA Marketplace and are then routed to Medicaid or CHIP if they qualify.
• Gather key documents. You may need information about your income, household, and immigration status for the family members applying.
• Look for local enrollment help. Community health centers, hospitals, and city programs may have navigators or enrollment counselors who can explain available options.
• Check for local or state immigrant-health programs. Even if you don’t qualify for full Medicaid, you may still have options through Emergency Medicaid, refugee-related services, or local care-access programs.

Your immigration status can affect your healthcare options

Health coverage rules often depend on a person’s immigration category. Whether someone is a green card holder, a nonimmigrant work visa holder, receiving asylum, an undocumented immigrant, or someone with a pending application can affect which benefits are available.

While immigration lawyers can’t serve as health insurance navigators, immigration status can shape what options exist in the first place.

FAQs on free healthcare for immigrants

Do green card holders get free healthcare?

Some green card holders qualify for Medicaid if they meet income and state eligibility rules, but many face a five-year waiting period unless they qualify for an exception.

Can undocumented immigrants get Medicaid?

Generally, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for full federally funded Medicaid, but they may qualify for emergency medical treatment.

Can immigrants get health insurance through work?

Yes. Many immigrants and nonimmigrants qualify for employer-sponsored health insurance.

Can visa holders buy health insurance in the U.S.?

Some lawfully present nonimmigrants may qualify for Marketplace coverage, and others may get employer, school, or private insurance.

This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

HELENA, Mont. - The Helena Police Department asked for the public's assistance finding a 14-year-old girl last seen on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. Her disappearance is not being treated as suspicious. 

HPD said Kassandra Letcher was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans. 

Kassandra is described as being five-foot-five-inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown eyes and red shoulder-length hair. HPD noted that Kassandra's hair is a different color in the photo provided than it is now. 

Anyone with information about Kassandra's whereabouts are asked to contact HPD at 406-457-8865. Anonymous tips can be submitted online through Helena Crimestoppers. 

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both suffered second-set stumbles on Thursday in their race for the number one ranking but recovered to reach the last eight of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Sinner, who said he ran out of steam in the second set, beat the wildly erratic Tomas Machac, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

Alcaraz followed Sinner on to the centre court and his match went to a similar pattern before he beat Tomas Etcheverry 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Alcaraz, the defending champion, could lose the No.1 ranking to Sinner, who was finishing a ban last year and has no ranking points to lose this week. The Italian came into Monaco after winning the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

On Thursday, Sinner galloped through the first set but slowed in the second, allowing Machac to hit his way back into the match.

"I was struggling a little bit, was a bit tired," Sinner said.

"I felt great before the match, in the second set I struggled a bit with trying to find the right energy. This can happen. I tried to push myself through which I've done."

Machac squandered two set points on serve at 5-4 in the second but then romped through the tie-break.

That ended Sinner's record streak of 36 straight sets in 1000-level events but he stayed cool to stretch his run of Masters wins to 19.

Even with his opponent struggling, the Czech kept flailing for winners. He handed Sinner the third-set initiative when wild hitting handed the Italian a break to love in the third game.

Sinner held serve twice before breaking to love to wrap up victory in two hours and one minute.

His quarter-final opponent, sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, needed to expend less energy. The Canadian was leading Casper Ruud 7-5, 2-2 when the Norwegian retired.

"I hope I can recover as much as I can for tomorrow," said Sinner.

Alcaraz also blazed through the first set. 

"I was hitting the ball really well in the first set, like ten out of ten," said the Spaniard.

But in the second he made 23 unforced errors.

"I had the chance to break his serve in the second set and I didn't take it and every time you don't take the opportiunities at this level you have to run back," said Alcaraz.

"He gained a little confidence, played more aggressive, hitting the ball better." 

Alcaraz re-established control when he broke in a marathon second game in the final set but was struggling to put his first serves in play. 

The top seed saved a break point to go 5-2 up and then needed three match points to clinch victory in 2hr 23min in his next service game.

- 'It's going to be fun' -

Alcaraz said his troubles had a lot to do with his opponent.

"Especially on clay he's a great fighter," Alcaraz said. "It's been a great day, a great battle."

The Spaniard will next face Alexander Bublik for the first time.

Kazakh Bublik, who beat Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-5, is, like Alcaraz, known for his drop shot.

Alcaraz said the two men had practised together.

"It's going to be fun to play," he said. "Let's see who has the best drop shot."

Earlier, 19-year-old Joao Fonseca reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time when he strode to a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over Matteo Berrettini.

The teenager is the youngest man to reach this stage in Monte Carlo since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005.

"It is super special," Fonseca said on court. "Of course I want more. I am very confident and focused."

The Brazilian's last-eight opponent will be world number three Alexander Zverev.  

"I am excited to play him for the first time," Zverev said of Fonseca. 

"He is a young upcoming talent and I think we will play each other a lot more in the next couple of years."

Germany's Zverev despatched Belgian Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5.

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US President Donald Trump's Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt by the opposition Democrats to curb his authority to wage war in Iran, amid mounting frustration in Congress over his handling of the Middle East conflict.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sought to pass a war powers resolution by "unanimous consent" -- a procedure that bypasses the need to hold a recorded vote, provided no one objects -- but was stopped, as expected, by the Republican majority's presiding officer.

The maneuver, staged during a short procedural session while lawmakers remain out of Washington, was largely symbolic but underscored growing Democratic anger over a conflict that has not been formally authorized by Congress.

Jeffries had urged colleagues to attend the session and press for immediate action, arguing a recently announced two-week ceasefire was "woefully insufficient" and calling for a permanent end to US involvement in the war.

Republicans, however, showed little appetite to challenge Trump's authority.

Some have backed the administration's handling of the conflict, while others -- though uneasy about the lack of congressional oversight -- have stopped short of supporting measures that could constrain military operations.

The failed push sets the stage for a more consequential showdown next week, when lawmakers return from a two-week recess and Democrats plan to force a recorded vote on the resolution.

Jeffries has said he believes only a small number of Republicans would need to break ranks for the measure to pass.

In the Senate, Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has signaled a parallel effort, with a vote expected in the coming days.

Similar measures have struggled to gain traction in the past, and Republican opposition remains strong despite signs of unease within the party.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Congress is required to act within 60 days of the start of an unauthorized military conflict -- a deadline that could intensify pressure on lawmakers if the Iran war continues.

"The American people are with us," Jeffries told left-leaning cable news network MS NOW ahead of the vote.

"They don't want to see billions of dollars being spent dropping bombs in Iran from an administration that's not willing to spend a dime to actually make life more affordable for the American people."

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