Global impact: Boycotts, conflicts, and crises unfold overnight

It happened while you were sleeping. Here's what world agencies reported overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

• Americans will boycott Putin's inauguration. Reuters Agency reports that the United States and most European Union countries will boycott Vladimir Putin's presidential inauguration. The swearing-in ceremony for a six-year presidential term will take place on Tuesday. "Ukraine does not see a legal basis for recognizing him as a democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation," stated the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the ceremony, there will be no representatives from most European Union countries, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; however, the diplomatic reaction is not unanimous. It is expected that, among others, France will send its representative, Reuters reports. "No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration," said the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller. "We do not recognize these elections as free and fair, but he is the president of Russia and will continue to hold this position," added the official.

• Israel's war cabinet approved the operation in Rafah. The Isreali war cabinet unanimously approved an operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to "pressure Hamas"; the goal is to "make progress in freeing hostages and achieving other war objectives," informed the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement also noted that the conditions for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip accepted by Hamas on Monday are "far from the basic demands" of Israel. It was added that the government would nevertheless send negotiators to continue talks to find an agreement that would meet Israel's conditions.

• American soldier detained in Russia. The reason was revealed. An American land forces soldier has been detained in Vladivostok, Russia. The non-commissioned officer was accused of robbing a woman, reported NBC television. The detention of the military personnel was confirmed by US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith. As she stated in a statement released to the media, Russia had notified the U.S. State Department of the soldier's detention in connection with criminal charges. The detention took place on May 2 in Vladivostok. However, the soldier's identity or case details were not provided. The White House confirmed this information but declined to comment. According to NBC News, the detained is a staff sergeant (junior warrant officer) in the US Army who was stationed in South Korea and had been accused of committing theft against a woman. The Associated Press reports that he was "in the process of returning" to the United States after completing his mission in Korea; however, instead of returning to the USA, he went to the Russian Federation.

• King of Jordan appeals to Biden to prevent "a new massacre". King Abdullah II of Jordan appealed on Monday to U.S. President Joe Biden to do everything possible to prevent "a new massacre" of Palestinian people in Rafah, on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, reports PAP. Israel is preparing for an offensive on this city. During the meeting with Biden at the White House, the Jordanian monarch warned that "an Israeli attack on Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinian refugees have taken shelter, fleeing from war, will lead to a new massacre and cause the conflict to spread to neighbouring countries," the statement published by the Jordanian embassy in Washington said. King Abdullah also called on the international community to take "urgent action" to prevent the Israeli offensive.

• Disaster in South Africa. Over 50 people were trapped under rubble. Three people died, and over 50 were trapped under rubble after a multi-story building collapsed in George, a South African city, reports Reuters Agency citing local authorities. The building was under construction. A rescue operation is underway. Twenty-four people have been rescued from the site and taken to hospitals, said the municipality of George in a Tuesday statement. According to the information provided, 51 people are still trapped. Premier of Western Cape Alan Winde had earlier reported that there were 75 crew members on-site at the time of the incident.