▪ S. Korea authorizes emergency use of Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment ▪ COVID-19 case numbers in S. Korea decreasing but Omicron taking over several countries worldwide ▪ N. Korea's ruling Workers' Party holds 4th plenary session on Monday ▪ Biden signs U.S. defense budget, which maintains USFK at current level in S. Korea ▪ NATO too focused on military deterrence against Moscow: Russian Deputy Defense Minister ▪ ON POINT: Expert's take on Russia-West tensions over Ukraine ▪ S. Korea's consumer sentiment index down 3.7 points m/m to 103.9 in Dec. ▪ S. Korea to produce 3.48 million cars in 2021, lowest since 2004: Report ▪ 2021 Trade & Business Review: Global supply chain crisis and geopolitical conflicts ▪ Ten most extreme weather events in 2021 cost more than US $170 bil. in damages: Study ▪ Looking back on 2021: S. Korea's fight against COVID-19 ▪ Diplomacy with N. Korea stalled in 2021, but engagement efforts continue ▪ World News: World leaders pay tribute to late Archbishop Tutu ▪ Cold snap eases this afternoon 2021-12-28, 08:00 (KST)