South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with around 20,000 people killed every year out of a population of 60 million.

The publication of a photo of the dinner, with a dozen guests, had triggered a deluge of criticism in the pandemic-hit country, and elicited rebukes from both Fernandez's own party as well as the opposition.

Despite claims by Kyiv's mayor that Ukraine had retaken most of Irpin from Russian forces, the battle is still raging, sending smoke plumes into the sky.

The two teachers had hosted a small party to mark the occasion which was broadcast live on Facebook from an Islamic seminary in the country's northwest.

Hong Kong has followed China with a zero-Covid policy despite the economic costs and a rising psychological toll on many people of the tough restrictions aimed at keeping the virus at bay.