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Fashion icon, André Leon Talley, died at a hospital in White Plains, NY on Tuesday at age 73. The former US Vogue director was the driving force behind the magazine throughout the 1980s and ’90s. He was a pioneer in the fashion industry and advocated for more black models and designers. Celebrities from all over the world paid tribute to Talley. Diane von Furstenberg paid tribute to Talley on Instagram, “Goodbye darling André. No one saw the world in a more glamorous way than you did. No one was grander and more soulful than you were. The world will be less joyful. I have loved you and laughed with you for 45 years… I miss your loud screams… I love you soooo much.” The cause of his death is unknown.

The IEB (Independent Examinations Board) for South Africa’s private schools has been released, showing an increase in the pass rate from 98.06% in 2020 to 98.39% in 2021. Despite the pandemic and many challenges learners faced, 12, 857 full-time and 968 part-time candidates wrote their IEB exams in 238 centres across South Africa. The 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will be announced on 20 January.

Here are the top trending stories of the day.

Headline: Global Fashion Trailblazer André Leon Talley Dead At 73: Reports – Huffington Post 

Headline: IEB class of 2021 better than 2020 — achieves 98.39% pass rate – Times Live 

Headline: Eskom reconfigures plan for 2022: burn more coal, burn more diesel – News24

Headline: South Africa’s fourth wave is waning, but don’t celebrate just yet, say experts – Daily Maverick 

Headline: Matric results: Harvard and Oxford the next stop for top achieving St John’s pupils – News24

Headline: Beijing Winter Olympics should not be Chinese ‘sportswashing’ opportunity, Amnesty International warns – Sky News

Headline: Proteas ponder extra all-rounder for first ODI v India – Sowetan Live 

Headline: Siyethemba Sithebe would’ve rejected Kaizer Chiefs if it was for this one reason! – The South African