The earth will stop rotating in its own axis (but will still revolve around the sun) in about 20 years as published by a group of researchers. The stoppage is supposed to clear the ocean in the equator belt and these waters will move either in northern or southern side of the earth. This creates a one unified continent which is like surrounding the earth, just like a belt.

Now as this event is coming, nations located in too southern or too northern starts invading countries located at the central part. They unleash their military secrets sparking a world war.
Think of like robots everywhere. As the war ended, people are left with hunger, homelessness as they face the consequence earth's stoppage.

Earth's stoppage (not instant) will introduce 6 mos. Daytime and 6 mos. Nighttime, the magnetic field are weakened, so that introduces intense sun rays which causes the land become barrens and forces people to live underground. And many more.

Also a great company creates a international railroad system whose tracks belts around the earth.