Hard Numbers: Haitians flock to US border, Americans unnerved, Biden to lift COVID travel ban, Putin's (narrower) election win

Migrants take shelter along the Del Rio International Bridge at sunset as they await to be processed after crossing the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Ciudad Acuna in Del Rio, Texas, U.S. September 19, 2021.

14,000: Amid a surge in migrants of Haitian origin arriving at the Mexico-Texas border in recent days, the US began mass deportations over the weekend and expects that some 14,000 migrants will be flown to Haiti over the next three weeks. Haitian officials say that Haiti can't absorb these people, many of whom have been living in South America for years.

54: According to a Pew poll conducted August 23-29, 54 percent of Americans surveyed said that despite vaccinations, the pandemic's worst is "yet to come." Many said that mixed messaging has made them less trusting of public health guidance.

45: With 95 percent of votes counted from Russia's legislative elections, the United Russia party, which backs President Vladimir Putin, is set to win about 45 percent of the vote, a significant drop from 54 percent in 2016. That decrease comes despite allegations of voter fraud, interference and intimidation intended to help the party.

20: The Biden administration announced Monday that it will allow all vaccinated travelers to visit the US starting in November, some 20 months after the Trump administration first enforced travel bans for select countries. The EU and UK have been angry at the Biden administration in recent months for barring their citizens from entering the US. This move is seen as a small gesture of goodwill during a broader diplomatic spat between the two sides.

More from GZERO Media

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

Syrians living in Turkey, holding a picture of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, celebrate after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, in Istanbul, Turkey, December 8, 2024.
REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has wanted this for years -- but what could go wrong?