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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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Geneva Summit Seeks Breakthrough on Global Plastics Treaty

 


                                            Activists stage a demonstation outside the United Nations ahead of talks on securing a                                                   treaty on plastic waste and production.

 Geneva Meeting Aims to Finalize Global Plastics Treaty

Delegates from 184 countries have convened in Geneva for what could be the final round of negotiations to establish a legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution. The session, running from August 5 to 14, marks the sixth attempt to reach consensus after previous talks stalled in Busan, South Korea, last year.

The urgency is palpable. With over 460 million tonnes of plastic produced annually—half of it single-use—and less than 10% recycled, the environmental and health consequences are mounting. Microplastics have infiltrated ecosystems, oceans, and even human bodies.

Key points of contention include:

  • Production Caps: Many nations, led by the High Ambition Coalition, advocate for limits on plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals.
  • Opposition from Oil-Producing States: Countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia prefer focusing on waste management and recycling, resisting production limits.
  • Health and Chemical Safety: A recent Lancet report warns of plastics’ health risks throughout their lifecycle, urging stronger safeguards.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen expressed cautious optimism, noting that despite over 300 unresolved points in the draft treaty, “it’s very possible to leave Geneva with a treaty”.

Observers, including over 600 NGOs, are pushing for a comprehensive agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics—from production to disposal. Greenpeace’s Graham Forbes emphasized, “We have to stop making so much plastic”.

This Geneva summit may be the world’s last best chance to forge a unified response to a crisis that threatens planetary and human health. The outcome could shape environmental policy for decades to come.

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