The World This Week: Sheikh Hasina’s Death Sentence, Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan, and Gen Z Protests in Mexico

This week saw major global developments, starting with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 student protest crackdown. Hasina, who has been living in India since her ouster in August 2024, was convicted in absentia. Critics questioned whether the tribunal—originally set up to try 1971 war crimes—had the authority to prosecute her. Bangladesh also requested India to extradite Hasina, though the treaty between the two countries is unlikely to allow it.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump pushed forward his 28-point peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The proposal includes limiting Ukraine’s military strength and preventing future NATO membership, sparking widespread debate. Meanwhile, Mexico saw large Gen Z protests driven by anger over corruption, unemployment, and inequality, marking another example of youth-led political unrest around the world.
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump moved ahead with a new 28-point peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. After months of discussions with both sides and a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump proposed that Ukraine agree not to join NATO and limit its armed forces to 600,000 troops. In return, NATO would also commit to not admitting Ukraine in the future and would avoid placing troops inside the country. The proposal has sparked a new wave of global debate, with some seeing it as a realistic step toward peace, while others consider it a compromise on Ukraine’s sovereignty. At the same time, Trump signaled possible future interventions in Venezuela and Nigeria, adding another layer of geopolitical tension.