Hard Numbers: China hits zero, Iran prisoner pardon, Americans on the brink, and Mexican justice

10,000: Iran's supreme leader will pardon 10,000 prisoners, including political ones arrested during anti-government rallies, as a goodwill gesture in honor of Iran's Nowruz New Year. That's on top of the 85,000 prisoners the government recently released to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

29: Our nerves are shot right now, and many Americans believe the end is near. A YouGov survey conducted in late February found that 29 percent of American adults believe there will be an apocalyptic disaster in their lifetime. Some 17 percent say they have an apocalyptic plan in place for their families. Phew!

43: A Mexican judge has issued an arrest warrant for a senior official at the Attorney General's office who oversaw the infamous case of 43 college students who disappeared in 2014. The judicial pursuit of the high-level official believed to have participated in the gruesome crimes (and who is now on the run) is a big deal considering that over 90 percent of all crimes in Mexico go unpunished.

0: As much of the world is battling the coronavirus outbreak, China reached a significant milestone Thursday. Granted Chinese statistics aren't always reliable, the government reported no new locally transmitted infections for the first time. But many worry about what would happen if a second wave hits China, because many of the rigorous measures implemented by Beijing to curb the disease's spread aren't sustainable in the long term.

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A satellite image shows a Russian, Gorshkov-class frigate offshore in Tartus, Syria December 10, 2024.
Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

The fall of the Assad regime erases a decades-long ally of both Moscow and Tehran -- but one of those two countries has lost way more than the other.

A protester wears a South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol mask while holding a representation of prison bars, during a rally calling for the impeachment of the South Korean President, who declared martial law, which was reversed hours later, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 11, 2024.
REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

The lead prosecutor in South Korea’s criminal investigation into last week’s brief declaration of martial law said Wednesday he would arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol if warranted.

Romanian independent far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu gives a statement outside his voting station after the annulation of the presidential elections, in Mogosoaia, Romania, on Dec. 8, 2024.

REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Romanians are still absorbing the shock of a first-round election result that saw a previously unknown ultranationalist, pro-Russian candidate finish in first place in the race for president and a collection of new parties with pro-Russian platforms capture about one-third of the vote.

Following the end of the "traffic light" coalition, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has submitted a request to the president of the Bundestag for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag.

Michael Kappeler/dpa via Reuters Connect

Faced with a political impasse preventing action on acute economic and geopolitical challenges, the German parliament will hold a vote of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government on Dec. 16. We asked Eurasia Group expert Jan Techau to explain what set off this chain of events and where it is likely to lead ahead of February's snap elections.

- YouTube

With all of the millions of Syrian refugees that you find in Europe, what's got to be the consequences for them of the fall of the Assad regime? What's the nature of the big agreement that is now being concluded with the European Union and the Mercosur countries of South America? Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden and co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, shares his perspective on European politics from San Francisco, United States.

What will be the #1 concern for the year ahead? Join us January 6 at 12 pm ET for a livestream with Ian Bremmer and global experts to discuss the Top Risks of 2025 report from Eurasia Group. The much-anticipated annual forecast of the biggest geopolitical risks to watch in 2025 will be released that morning. Evan Solomon, GZERO Media's publisher, will moderate the conversation with Ian Bremmer and Cliff Kupchan of Eurasia Group, along with special guests.
Watch live at https://www.gzeromedia.com/toprisks