⚡️ Russia and the United States have neared a deal on granting visas to American embassy staff in Moscow, The Washington Post reports, citing US officials.

The breakthrough was reportedly achieved at a meeting in Vienna. The agreement is yet to be finalized.

Trump's false positive COVID test is non-story, US media has disgraced itself again, observers say

🐱 Scared of misinformation? Beware of... cute cats, The New York Times warns

As an ultimate lure for clicks and reactions, pictures, GIFs, and videos of adorable animals are understandably one of the digital media outlets' favourite tools to lure in readers. However, The NYT points specifically at "people and organisations peddling false information online."

The outlet acknowledges that "the posts with the animals do not directly spread false information" (thank God!) and asserts that the huge traffic they draw can ensnare the unsuspecting users in "a publication or site spreading false information about election fraud, unproven coronavirus cures and other baseless conspiracy theories entirely unrelated to the videos."

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 US President Joe Biden says he is putting together a set of initiatives to "make it very very difficult" for Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine

💬 Contacts between Biden, Putin can calm ‘overheated’ relations, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov says

Actor John Schneider has slammed Alec Baldwin over his interview, during which he said he "didn't pull the trigger." Schneider claimed the interview was "all designed to make us feel sorry for Alec Baldwin" and claimed the actor's teary-eyed emotional responses during the interview were "bulls--t."

"Three weeks ago, it was a prop gun. Four weeks ago, nobody knew how in the world this real weapon was loaded on the set," Schneider said. "Today, he didn't pull the trigger."

Joe Biden says he caught a cold: the president added it's because of his grandson, "who likes to kiss him."

⚡️Parents of suspected Michigan high school shooter are charged with 4 counts involuntary manslaughter

⚡️ Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak with each other in the “very near future,” US State Secretary Antony Blinken says

⚡️🇮🇷 US suddenly ended Vienna talks, claiming Tehran isn't "serious" about the negotiations.

🗣 "We've had this first round of talks since the new [Iranian] government, and what we've seen in the last couple of days is that Iran right now does not seem to be serious about doing what's necessary to return to compliance, which is why we ended this round of talks in Vienna," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday,

He added that the US would be "consulting very closely and carefully" with partners to the 2015 nuclear deal, including Russia, China, and the European Union, as well as "concerned countries" like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states.

🤔The top US diplomat did not elaborate on why he believed Iran wasn't serious about the talks.

❗️ Fugitive warrant issued for parent's of suspected Michigan school shooter, manhunt underway

JUST IN | Lawyers for Crumbleys reveal clients did not flee, had left town 'for their own safety' after shooting

🤯 Scientists from the University of California-Riverside are attempting to study Alzheimer's disease from a different perspective, and it seems they may have discovered its potential cause, according to new research. 🔬

It appears that a form of unhealthy buildup in the brain may be connected with a slowdown in the ability of cells to "clean themselves". The speed of clearing proteins - called ‘autophagy’ - tends to lessen in those above age 65. It is not understood why, but the California-based scientists plan to study the issue.

Purpose-built drugs are now being tested that are hoped will improve the process of autophagy. Along with proper diet and new medications, humanity may hope to eventually dodge the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's.

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💥 Hundreds, possibly thousands of dangerous munitions, such as armour-piercing grenades, landmines and rockets, as well as hundreds of pounds of plastic explosives, have been lost or stolen from the US military over the past decade, AP reports, citing their own investigation.

Explosives that originated from military bases or between-base shipments have reportedly been found “in homes and storage units, inside military barracks and alongside roads, even at a US-Mexico border checkpoint.”

According to the media outlet, records have been falsified by troops in attempts to conceal thefts, and in some cases missing explosives weren’t reported at all.

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🇺🇸Cases of the coronavirus Omicron variant have been reported by health officials in four additional US states – states of Maryland, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Utah – on Friday, bringing the total up to nine states with confirmed infections.

⚡️Jan. 6 panel postpones Jeffrey Clark deposition over medical condition

WATCH | Adorable corgis and their owners gathered at Santa Anita Park for the annual Corgi Nationals

There are some doubts that corgis will replace greyhounds on the race track anytime soon! 😂

🦠New Omicron variant cases were reported in New Jersey, bringing the total number of states with confirmed infections to ten.

Omicron, which was first detected in southern Africa, has emerged as a variant of concern, prompting new travel restrictions and public health measures in the United States and primarily Western countries.

🌴❄️ This weekend Hawaii braces for...snow?

A blizzard warning has been issued for the tropical islands of Hawaii, with at least 12 inches of snow forecast this weekend.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the alert said. "Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility."

Wind gusts over 100 mph are also expected, according to the alert issued by National Weather Service Honolulu.

🤔But really, in Hawaii? The tropical paradise?