As the clock ticks down to a critical deadline, lawmakers have unveiled a monumental $1.2 trillion government funding package, igniting a frenzy on Capitol Hill as they scramble to push the legislation through before a looming shutdown threatens to halt operations. With Friday's shutdown deadline hanging overhead, the pressure is on for swift action. However, uncertainties loom large, casting doubts on whether the legislation can secure passage in time to avert a potential short-term government funding lapse and shutdown over the weekend.

CAN CONGRESS PUT TOGETHER A DEAL BEFORE DEADLINE?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt on Thursday for discussions with Arab foreign ministers concerning a potential cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Blinken will participate in a meeting with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Blinken commenced his regional tour on Wednesday with talks in Saudi Arabia to address the ceasefire proposal for Gaza. He is scheduled to visit Israel on Friday.

BLINKEN IS TRYING TO CONVINCE ISRAEL TO TAKE CEASEFIRE

More than 30 countries, including European nations, the US, Brazil and China, took part on Thursday in the first-ever summit held by the United Nations' atomic energy agency to promote nuclear as a "clean and reliable source of energy." The approach is anathema to a number of other European countries, including Germany and Spain, and to many environmentalists, who see the call for nuclear as a harmful distraction from the need to invest massively, and immediately, in renewables.

COULD NUCLEAR POWER BE THE ANSWER TO CLIMATE CRISIS?

When and where did the world's first nuclear power plant open?

Thursday's answer: Four US states share a border with Mexico (Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas). Five US states border the Gulf of Mexico (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas).