China's coastal Guangdong and Fujian provinces have activated emergency response as Typhoon Mitag, the 17th typhoon of 2025, is forecast to make landfall along Guangdong's coast between Huilai and Taishan from Friday afternoon to evening.
Typhoon Mitag is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to most parts of Guangdong, according to meteorological forecasts.
Due to its impact, torrential rainstorms are expected to affect parts of Guangdong and east China's Fujian Province from Friday to Sunday, the National Meteorological Center said.
Guangdong Province raised its emergency response for wind prevention from level IV to level III at 10:00 on Friday.
At present, 60 passenger ferry routes across Guangdong have been suspended, and over 2,000 people have been evacuated from 35 wind power platforms along the coast.
In the Shenzhen waters, all 1,278 recreational vessels and yachts have returned to port to take shelter from the wind, and all high-speed passenger ships on routes other than those to Hong Kong and Macao have been suspended.
The Fujian Maritime Safety Administration has initiated a Level-IV emergency response for typhoon prevention, designating Zhangzhou as a key area. It has continuously issued typhoon warning information to remind vessels passing by at sea to avoid the impact of the typhoon.
At present, four professional rescue helicopters, 50 coast guard boats and 111 port tugboats have been dynamically deployed to ensure that any maritime danger can be dealt with promptly and effectively.
China's coastal Guangdong, Fujian provinces activate emergency response as Typhoon Mitag approaches
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
