Traders have warned of a nationwide shutdown on January 16 if the government does not withdraw mandatory POS machine installation. Protesting in Islamabad, they accused tax authorities of harassing small businesses and demanded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's intervention.
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu met at Mar-a-Lago, presenting a united front but revealing no concrete progress on the Gaza ceasefire's second phase. Trump made some contested claims about potential pardon for Netanyahu, which Israel's presidency disputed, whereas he also went on to issue warnings for Hamas and Iran.
US ambassador David Perdue reaffirmed the Quad's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific amid escalating regional tensions. The meeting with Quad partners in Beijing occurred as China conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. The Quad's partnership remains strong, aiming to maintain a rules-based order in the region.