• U.S./Pakistan relations deteriorated this week after the U.S. President tweeted that the country has given “safe haven to the terrorists” and that the United States had been foolish to provide over $33 billion in aid to Pakistan in recent years.  The Pakistan National Security Committee has expressed “deep disappointment” over the comments. [Al Jazeera]
  • Senator Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) announced his resignation this week, leaving open a seat that many believe will be filled by former Republican presidential candidate and Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney. [BBC]
  • Much of the East Coast was enveloped in dangerously cold temperatures in the first week of 2018 in the wake of snow-heavy winter storm Grayson.  [New York Times]
  • Indeed, the city of Baltimore, Maryland closed schools Friday after teachers reported temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit inside classrooms, forcing students to attempt to learn and teachers to instruct while bundled in coats, hats and scarves indoors. [CNN]
  • Alex Trebek, beloved (and be-love-to-hate-d) host of Jeopardy! underwent brain surgery this week to address a subdural hematoma caused by a fall over the holidays.  The surgery reportedly went well, and the trivia-master is expected to return to his podium early in the New Year.  [NPR]

FACT OF THE WEEK: Among the many companies owned by Alphabet Inc., (Google’s parent corporation,) is Calico, the mission of which is to cure and prevent disease, extend the human lifespan, and ultimately avert death entirely. [TIME]