EU common charger rules

At last, the EU has standardised charging ports for mobile phones and other portable electronic devices with all new devices sold in the EU now required to support USB-C charging. As well as being more convenient for users, it is estimated that it will reduce waste with around 11,000 tonnes of e-waste being attributed to discarded chargers.  It will also …

Houthi attacks to stop in the Red Sea

According to a report in The Loadstar, the Houthis in Yemen have confirmed that they will stop attacking vessels in the Red Sea, other than those owned by Israeli companies or sailing under the Israeli flag.  The report says that the group has extorted over $2bn in ransom payoffs since the attacks began. It would, however, resume attacks on UK …

Possible 100% tax on Spanish homes

The Spanish government is reported to be planning to impose a 100% tax on non-residents, from outside the EU, buying homes in the country.  The country’s prime minister, Pedron Sánchez, has said that this is to prevent non-residents from buying property in Spain to let.  This has caused a shortage of property for sale in the country. It is not …

EU rules to improve Gender Balance on boards

The EU’s Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive, intended to create a more balanced gender representation on the boards of listed companies across all EU Member States, is set to come into force on 30 June, 2026.The Directive sets a target for EU large listed companies of 40% of the underrepresented sex among their non-executive directors and 33% among all …