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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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Caribbean Standoff: U.S. Naval Buildup Sparks Diplomatic Crossfire with Venezuela

 

Venezuelan government supporters enlist in the Bolivarian National Militia following Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's call for a nationwide recruitment drive, amid rising tensions with the United States over the deployment of U.S. warships in the region, in Caracas, Venezuela, August 23, 2025

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have intensified following the arrival of seven U.S. warships and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine in the Southern Caribbean. U.S. officials say the deployment is aimed at countering Latin American drug cartels, part of a broader strategy to curb migration and bolster border security.

The naval force — which includes the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale — carries roughly 4,500 personnel, including 2,200 Marines. Surveillance flights by P-8 spy planes have also been reported in the region.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the move as “gunboat diplomacy,” accusing the U.S. of threatening his country with nuclear-capable submarines in violation of international treaties. In response, Venezuela has mobilized 15,000 troops to its western border with Colombia and ordered civil defense drills.

While the U.S. frames the buildup as a counter-narcotics mission, analysts warn the standoff risks escalating into a broader geopolitical confrontation, with both nations trading accusations of aggression and interference.

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