The Academy may want to avoid an #OscarsSoWhite row this year, but they probably won't

In 2015, there were so few non-white people nominated for Oscars that the Academy – made up of thousands of people who have previously won or been nominated for Oscars – had to respond, saying they were "committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion".

A year on, and this year's awards look increasingly to award the "Hollywood's best and whitest. Sorry, brightest", as host Neil Patrick Harris quipped during the 2015 ceremony.

Gold Derby, a website that aggregates Oscar predictions from panels of experts and press, has few non-white names to collate. The contenders for Best Actor look set to include Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl), Brian Cranston (Trumbo) and Matt Damon (The Martian).

Aside from a few stray nods for Will Smith, for his performance in Concussion, the Best Actor category is a sea of white.

Best Actress fares worse: Cate Blanchett (Carol), Brie Larson (Room), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) and Jennifer Lawrence (Joy) give a good spread across the generations – there's a 46 year gap between Rampling, 67, and Ronan, 21 – but all are white.

It's a similar story in the Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Director categories, with the exception of Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation, Samuel L Jackson in The Hateful Eight, Michael B Jordan in Creed and Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for The Revenant.

There's also hope that Mya Taylor, a black transgender woman, will be recognised for her role as a prostitute in Tangerine.

The Best Picture category also lacks the diversity of earlier years, when films such as 2013 winner 12 Years A Slave and Selma were nominated (although it's worth noting that part of the #OscarsSoWhite outraged was sparked over the snubbing of Selma director, Ava Duvernay).

Although blockbusters such as Furious 7 have promoted diversity in front of and behind the camera (Original Song gong-worthy See You Again may make Wiz Khalifa one of the few people of colour to win an Oscar this year), the same can not be said for more Oscar-friendly films. Straight Outta Compton, about Californian rap group NWA, is one of the few non-white films likely to be nominated.

This lack of diverse, big-budget filmmaking in Hollywood may prove the bigger problem in making the Oscars more racially aware than the make-up of its Academy: 94 per cent white, 77 per cent male and with a median age of 62. More than 320 members, from a broad demographic, were invited to join last year, but if there aren't the films to vote for, there is only so much change that can happen.

Academy members must submit their votes by Friday, and the nominees will be announed on January 14.

summary: With even fewer actors and directors of colour involved with Oscar favourites this year, the Awards could face more accusations of discrimination

Q:
Jet Blue Forms Partnership With Virgin Atlantic
NEW YORK – JetBlue said Tuesday it has formed a partnership with Virgin Atlantic that will allow customers to fly on both airlines with a single ticket.

Travelers on JetBlue will be able to connect through Boston, New York, Washington to catch flights to London Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic. JetBlue customers connecting in Orlando will be able to fly to London's Gatwick airport, Manchester, England and Glasgow, Scotland.

Passengers can purchase the JetBlue-Virgin Atlantic flights beginning this week.

JetBlue already has similar partnerships with Dubai's Emirates Airlines, Irish carrier Aer Lingus, South African Airways and American Airlines. These partnerships allow airlines to expand their available destinations without adding costs. They also feed more passengers into their respective networks.
What was this article about?
A:
Travelers on JetBlue will be able to connect through Boston, New York, Washington to catch flights to London Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic.

Kandahar, Afghanistan, Police Chief Abdul Raziq survives bombing

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Kandahar Police Chief Abdul Raziq, one of the most powerful men in southern Afghanistan, survived a massive bombing late Monday that appeared to have been aimed at him, a provincial spokesman said.

At least four civilians died in the blast, apparently set off by a suicide bomber in a minivan, and 20 people were hurt, including Raziq, whose injuries were described as minor.

The bomb exploded about 10 p.m. as Raziq's convoy was driving past on a main road on the city's outskirts, said spokesman Jawed Faisal.

Raziq, who was installed as police chief after his predecessor was assassinated, is credited with many in Kandahar with helping contain the Taliban presence in the city.

Previously the head of the provincial border police, he is a favorite of the American military, which helped boost his power and prestige. However, he has also been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses and corruption.

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summary:
Kandahar, Afghanistan, Police Chief Abdul Raziq, one of the most powerful men in southern Afghanistan, survived a massive bombing late Monday that appeared to have been aimed at him, a provincial spokesman said.