China's eastern provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang have launched emergency responses as typhoon Francisco approaches.
According to local emergency authorities, typhoon Francisco is expected to gradually step up its influence over the fishing grounds and northern coastal areas of Fujian from Thursday. Fujian had launched an emergency response for typhoon prevention by Thursday noon.
Out of safety concerns, non-essential personnel on coastal fish farms in Fujian's Ningde City have been evacuated. Fishing vessels in the central Fujian fishing grounds north of 25.3°N, as well as in the eastern and offshore Fujian fishing grounds and the Diaoyu Island area, are urged to find shelter in ports or move to places south of 25.3°N by 08:00 Friday.
Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province also launched an emergency response on Wednesday. On Thursday, Taizhou authorities evacuated 850 tourists from the Dachen Island, and the ferry services from Jiaojiang port to the Dachen Island and the Jiangshan Island will be suspended on Friday. Taizhou Maritime Bureau also stepped up inspections on mooring cables and personnel shifts to eliminate potential safety hazards.
Fishery departments in Taizhou have been tightening vessel controls. By Thursday, all fishing vessels have returned to port, and recreational fishing boats have ceased operations, with aquaculture workers evacuated ashore.
Fujian, Zhejiang launch emergency response for typhoon Francisco
The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that it is pausing immigrant visa processing from 75 countries.
The measure will apply to "countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people," the department said on X.
The pause impacts countries including Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea, "whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival," said the State Department.
Earlier on Wednesday, the department announced in a memo that it would suspend visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand and Yemen, according to a Fox News report.
The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of visa processing, the report said. The move came after the White House announced on Tuesday that it is ending temporary protected status for Somali immigrants amid fraud allegations in Minnesota.
On Monday, the State Department announced on social media that it had revoked over 100,000 visas since U.S. President Donald Trump took office nearly a year ago.
In November 2025, Trump announced his intention to permanently suspend immigration from what he described as "Third World countries", following the death of a National Guard member after being shot near the White House by an Afghan national.
U.S. freezes immigrant visa processing from 75 countries
