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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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Bondi Beach Attack Linked to ISIS Influence After Philippines Trip

 

A grandparent of 10-year-old Matilda, who was killed during a mass shooting targeting a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, grieves at the floral memorial to honour the victims of the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025.


Australian authorities have revealed that the two gunmen responsible for the deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were inspired by Islamic State ideology and had recently travelled to the Philippines. The attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, left 15 people dead and several others injured, marking Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades.

Police identified the attackers as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24. Sajid was killed at the scene by police, while Naveed remains in critical condition after being shot. Investigators disclosed that the pair spent nearly all of November in the Philippines, where intelligence sources suspect they may have undergone military-style training, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that evidence—including ISIS flags found in a vehicle linked to the suspects—points to the attack being motivated by extremist ideology. The incident is being treated as an anti-Semitic terrorist attack, with the Jewish community specifically targeted during the Hanukkah event.

The tragedy has reignited debate over Australia’s gun laws, as Sajid Akram reportedly held a firearms licence since 2015 and owned multiple registered weapons. Victims included a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, underscoring the devastating impact on the community.

Authorities in both Australia and the Philippines are now working together to trace the suspects’ movements and connections, aiming to uncover whether they had direct links to Islamic State networks operating in Southeast Asia.

In summary: The Bondi Beach shooting was not only Australia’s deadliest in decades but also highlights the ongoing global reach of ISIS ideology, raising urgent questions about radicalisation, international security cooperation, and domestic gun control.

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