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AIR MILES Is Gone. Here's What Actually Earns You Travel Now

  If you've been holding onto a Air Miles card waiting to redeem for a flight, the program you signed up for doesn't exist anymore — and the cards that replaced it aren't the best game in town. If you searched "best AIR MILES credit card" and landed here, there's something you need to know first: there is no such thing anymore. AIR MILES, the loyalty program that's been part of Canadian wallets since 1992, officially became BMO Blue Rewards on June 2, 2026. BMO had already stopped issuing new AIR MILES cards back in January, and every collector's Miles converted automatically into Blue Points at a rate of roughly 1 Air Mile to 15.79 Blue Points — no action needed, no lost value. That's good news if you're a longtime collector sitting on a pile of Miles. It's less good news if you were hoping to earn free flights that way going forward, because Blue Rewards was built to compete with PC Optimum and Scene+ — grocery, gas, and everyday spendi...

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Putin: Islamic Extremists Behind Moscow Concert Hall Massacre, But Masterminds Remain Elusive

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly attributed the horrifying attack at a suburban Moscow concert hall to “radical Islamists.” The assailants, who mercilessly claimed the lives of 139 people, left the city in shock and mourning. However, the mystery surrounding the orchestrators of this bloodshed persists.

On Friday night, the Crocus City Hall music venue on the western outskirts of Moscow turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. The attackers, armed with deadly intent, unleashed chaos, leaving more than 180 injured in addition to the fatalities. This tragedy stands as the deadliest attack in Russia in years.

Putin, addressing government officials, emphasized that the perpetrators were “extremists whose ideology the Islamic world has been fighting for centuries.” Despite the arrest of four gunmen attempting to flee to Ukraine, investigators have yet to pinpoint the masterminds behind this calculated assault. The critical question remains: Who ordered the attack?

While Ukraine vehemently denies any involvement, Putin has not ruled out their potential role. He asserted that it is crucial to understand “why the terrorists after committing their crime tried to flee to Ukraine and who was waiting for them there.” The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack, and U.S. intelligence corroborated their claims. French President Emmanuel Macron also pointed to “an IS entity” as the force behind the Moscow tragedy.

Putin warned that this incident might not be isolated. He suggested that more attacks could follow, hinting at possible Western involvement. The U.S. confidentially shared a warning about imminent terror attacks with Moscow two weeks before the raid, but Putin remains skeptical. He criticized the U.S. Embassy’s prior notice to Americans, viewing it as an attempt to “blackmail” the Kremlin.

Putin further accused Ukraine of launching cross-border attacks on Russian regions, using terror as a tool. He framed the Moscow concert hall massacre as a “logical part of this chain.” As the investigation continues, the world awaits answers, and the victims’ families seek justice.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the haunting question lingers: Who orchestrated this bloodshed, and what motivated them? Until the masterminds are unmasked, the shadows cast by this horrific event will persist, leaving a scar on Moscow’s collective memory.

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