Tokyo: problems with the train power grid leave over 670,000 commuters stranded

Today's Headlines: in Seoul, Yoon is sentenced to five years in prison in the first of the trials for attempting to impose martial law; In Yemen, Prime Minister bin Breik resigns and is succeeded by Foreign Minister Zindani; Hunger threatens 4.7 million people in Afghanistan; Washington has asked Jakarta to purchase US drones to monitor the South China Sea; The final death toll from the fire at the Wang Fuk Court towers in Hong Kong is 168.

JAPAN

This morning, problems with the railway power line in Tokyo interrupted commuter services on the two main lines, which serve some of the world's busiest stations in terms of passenger numbers. The disruption blocked the movements of over 673,000 passengers on the East Japan Railway (JR East). The Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines were at a standstill for about nine hours. According to JR East, the failure to restore power after overnight maintenance work was behind the disruption.

SOUTH KOREA

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was under indictment, was sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power, obstruction of justice and falsification of documents in connection with the (failed) imposition of martial law in December 2024. This is the first conviction in four different trials related to the controversial decision that allegedly plunged the country into “political crisis” without ever showing “any sign of remorse”. In the main of the other trials, in which he is accused of subverting the Constitution, special prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon.

YEMEN

Yemen's presidential council has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Salem bin Breik and appointed Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen Zindani as his successor. This was reported by the state news agency Saba, according to which the former prime minister formally submitted his resignation, which was approved by the council. Yemen has been the scene of escalating tensions in recent weeks between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

AFGHANISTAN

“Hunger” threatens at least 4.7 million people in Afghanistan, with another 17 million in “urgent need” of “humanitarian food assistance”. This is according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which confirms the scale of the food emergency in the country. Added to this is a collapsing economy with around 75% unemployment nationwide and almost 90% of the population living below the poverty line.

INDONESIA - UNITED STATES

Washington has asked Jakarta to purchase US-made maritime surveillance drones for use in patrolling waters near the South China Sea. This is according to a government document analysed by The Straits Times, which states that the White House is offering Indonesia a reduction in tariffs from 32% to 19% in exchange.

HONG KONG

The final death toll from last November's devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court towers in the Tai Po district is 168, at least seven more than the previous figure. This was announced yesterday by Hong Kong's security chief, in the world's deadliest fire in a residential complex. The victims include 110 women and 58 men, aged between six months and 98 years.

RUSSIA - CHINA

The trade balance between Moscow and Beijing has fallen for the first time in five years, after record results in 2024, stopping at 4 billion according to Reuters' calculations, compared to 0 billion previously. The decline is due to the falling demand for Chinese cars in Russia and the collapse of crude oil, coal and gas imports into China as a result of sanctions, following the latest decline in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TAJIKISTAN - KUWAIT

Tajikistan's Transport Minister, Azim Ibrokhim, signed a contract in Dushanbe with the representative of the Kuwaiti company Narco, Ahmad Mahrus, for the reconstruction project of the country's most mountainous motorway.

The works will concern the Ajni-Gornaja Matča section and involve the modernisation of the asphalt, the widening of the lanes and the renovation of the engineering systems of a road built in the 1960s, covering a length of 162 km.