US Senate passes funding bill as historic shutdown nears likely end

The US Senate has passed a funding bill that could potentially end the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has become the longest in the country's history. The bill, if approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President, would provide temporary funding for the affected government agencies until February 15. The shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has resulted in the furlough of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and the suspension of various government services. The primary point of contention has been the Trump administration's demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border, which the Democrats have staunchly opposed. The passage of the funding bill in the Senate represents a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the political stalemate. However, the fate of the bill still remains uncertain as it must now be approved by the House, which is controlled by the Democrats, before it can be signed into law by the President.