IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Australia’s The Age has revealed that a local tobacco cartel is working with a crime syndicate to dominate the illicit vape trade. The Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted 115,200 vapes worth A$4.5 million disguised as “furniture” at Sydney port. Authorities say over 12 million illegal vapes have been seized since 2024.

Philip Morris Korea has announced a new packaging design for TEREA, the dedicated tobacco stick brand for its heat-not-burn device IQOS ILUMA, to celebrate the third anniversary of its launch in South Korea. The newly designed products are now available at nine IQOS flagship stores and major convenience stores across the country.

Since Kazakhstan banned e-cigarette sales in June 2024, transactions have gone underground, shifting to Telegram and some e-commerce platforms and making enforcement harder; related research indicates the ban has not significantly reduced demand.

Imperial Brands is calling on UK retailers to take part in the Government’s consultation on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will shape a new licensing framework for nicotine product sales across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Department of Health and Social Care’s call for evidence closes on 3 December 2025. Imperial Brands stresses this is a key chance for retailers to influence policy, support fair competition, and help curb illicit sales.

As regulations tighten, consumer habits evolve, and new nicotine products reshape the market, the cigar industry is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. In this exclusive interview, 2Firsts speaks with Cigar Sense — a data-driven sensory analysis firm — to explore what’s really changing in cigars, and what it means for manufacturers, retailers, and smokers around the world.

According to The Straits Times, after Singapore strengthened anti-vaping enforcement from September 2025, Relx International-linked entity Hellow SG voluntarily applied for deregistration and was officially struck off by ACRA on September 30, closing its local office. The company reportedly undertook regional business support and operated quietly.