IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

The Guardian reports that UK retailer Co-op is ramping up vape promotions to recover sales lost after an April cyberattack. Internal documents cite a £1M weekly sales gap and 100,000 fewer transactions. Staff say the move contradicts Co-op’s “ethical retail” image, as the government prepares to ban vape ads under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

New Zealand’s High Alert drug harm monitoring system has issued a public High Alert warning after multiple hospitalisations linked to illicit vape pods containing the anaesthetic etomidate. Known on the street as space oil, k-pods, or eto, these vapes were first detected in January 2025. Customs has since seized additional samples, and clinics nationwide report rising cases of poisoning and hypoglycaemia.

Russia's Tyumen Council is considering a bill to ban e-cigarettes and vaping products, sparking concerns about potential risks.

As Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Thanksgiving shopping season arrive, e-cigarette brands such as OXVA and VAPORESSO, together with online retail platforms, have launched concentrated discount and giveaway campaigns running from mid-November to early December. Promotions include tiered reductions, sitewide discounts, bundle deals and interactive prize draws, covering North America, the UK and parts of the EU market.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia upheld the 2025 vape-flavor ban as constitutional, rejecting appeals by Pro Vape and SIA MASS Industry. Judges said the restrictions serve a legitimate public-health purpose by protecting youth from nicotine addiction and that the social benefits outweigh business losses.

At the FDLI Tobacco and Nicotine Policy Conference, FDA CTP Acting Director Bret Koplow spoke in favor of promoting tobacco harm reduction to reduce smoking. He backed a legal marketplace for authorized reduced-risk products, potential expansion of flavored e-cigs, and faster FDA reviews to ensure a strong, regulated market.