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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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Tensions Flare as Syria Accuses Israel of Seizing Territory Near Mount Hermon Amid Peace Talks

 

Israeli soldiers ride in a military vehicle along the ceasefire line with Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as seen from the Golan Heights last December


Syria’s foreign ministry has accused Israel of sending 60 soldiers across the border to take control of a strategic area near Mount Hermon, calling the move a violation of its sovereignty and a “direct threat” to regional peace.

The incident reportedly occurred near a hilltop overlooking Beit Jinn, close to the Lebanese border — an area long associated with arms smuggling by Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. Syrian officials say six Syrians were arrested during the operation, while the Israeli military claims it was targeting weapons depots and seized RPGs, rifles, and explosives.

The escalation comes as both nations engage in US-mediated talks aimed at de-escalating tensions in southern Syria. Damascus hopes these negotiations could lead to a broader security arrangement, but the latest developments risk undermining progress.

Israel has maintained a military presence on Mount Hermon since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, citing the need to protect the Druze minority in southern Syria and to prevent hostile groups from gaining a foothold near its borders.

With both sides trading accusations and no immediate comment from Israeli officials on the latest claims, the standoff underscores the fragility of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

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