and Ryanair

Ban Certain Bags From Flights

As more of us try to escape our Irish summer for a last-minute sunshine break, take note if you are flying with high tech luggage, you could be prevented from boarding your flight with changes to airline policies.

But holidaymakers are being warned to double check the rules of the airlines, to prevent any last-minute surprises. More and more people are opting for hand luggage; however, passengers are being warned that certain bags are banned from many airlines including Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

Smart bags featuring built-in electronics boasting benefits like device charging, electronic locks and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities are one such bag type that has recently been banned by several airlines, with some passengers being refused boarding when travelling with them.

Ryanair allows smart bags to be taken onboard as carry-on luggage, but only if the lithium battery is removed before the bag is stored in the overhead locker, with the battery always remaining with you during the flight.

Smart bags can also be carried in the hold as check in luggage as long as the battery/power bank is removed before it is dropped off at check in/bag drop off. The battery must then be carried on to the plane with you.

If the power bank has not been removed, the bags will be banned on the flight as either checked-in luggage or carry-on bags.

According to Aer Lingus, smart bags can be carried onboard if the battery is removed with the terminals protected against short circuit. If the battery cannot be readily removed by the passenger the bag be carried onboard. The ban also extends to the wattage rating of the battery/power bank not exceeding 100Wh, or if the wattage rating cannot be determined.

Canadian city evacuation as wildfires advance Michael Parkinson has died aged 88

Residents of Yellowknife, Canada have been advising to evacuate their homes and businesses by noon today (Friday) in the latest terrifying wildfire crisis.

Yellowknife is the newest chapter of a terrible summer for wildfires globally, as flames spread quickly across the country. More than 1,000 wildfires are currently burning across the country.

"Unfortunately, our wildfire situation has taken another turn for the worse with a fire burning west of Yellowknife now representing a real threat to the city," Shane Thompson, the Northwest Territories' environment minister, told a news conference.

He ordered the city's nearly 20,000 residents to leave by noon today (Friday). There is only one highway open to the south. Commercial and military flights were also being arranged.

Celebrated chat show host Michael Parkinson has died peacefully at home at the age of 88 surrounded by loved ones, his family has said.

Michael Parkinson became a familiar face on both the BBC and ITV because of his intimate celebrity interviews, most notably on the BBC show Parkinson, interviewing some of Hollywood's biggest names throughout his illustrious career - with names such as Jimmy Cagney, Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall, Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, John Lennon and Ingrid Bergman on the list. Parkinson brought down the curtain on more than 30 years of his chat show at the end of 2007 with a final show featuring David Beckham, Michael Caine, David Attenborough, Judi Dench, Edna Everage, Billy Connolly, Peter Kay and Jamie Cullum in a two-hour special.