Drugs News

Breaking Bad-ness: NY cherry factory hid drug op

New York - It could almost be a scene out of hit television program "Breaking Bad.

Marijuana legalization takes effect in Alaska

Los Angeles - Alaska became the third American state to allow the recreational use of marijuana, following in the steps of Colorado and Washington state -- and soon to be joined by Oregon.

Australia 'very disappointed' at Indonesia death row ruling

Sydney - Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Wednesday she was "very disappointed" at the failure of the latest bid to spare two Australians on death row in Indonesia, as Jakarta signalled that execution preparations were almost complete.

Jakarta court dismisses death row Australians' legal challenge

Jakarta - An Indonesian court on Tuesday dismissed a bid by two Australian drug traffickers on death row to avoid execution by challenging the president's rejection of their pleas for clemency.

Acapulco's violent descent sends army to schools

Acapulco - Fresh white paint covers the soot from the fire that criminals set in the middle school principal's office in a rough Acapulco neighborhood, where gang-linked violence interrupted classes for weeks.

Australian FM calls Indonesia to ease tensions: Reports

Sydney - Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called on Indonesia to give two Australians on death row an "indefinite stay of execution" as she clarified her Prime Minister's comments linking their fate to aid, media reports said Saturday.

Brazil's Rousseff refuses Indonesian envoy credentials

Bras - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday refused to accept the credentials of the Indonesian ambassador to demonstrate her anger at last month's execution of a Brazilian citizen for drug smuggling.

Indonesia delays execution of two Australians

Jakarta - Indonesia has delayed the execution of two Australian drug smugglers by up to a month, backtracking on an earlier pledge to put the pair before the firing squad by the end of February.

Using bacteria to battle malaria as possible drug treatment

Uppsala - A newly discovered family of bacteria, found in malaria-carrying mosquitoes, could hold the key to fighting the parasitic disease.

Threats have no place in diplomacy, Indonesia tells Australia

Jakarta - Indonesia's foreign ministry told Australia Wednesday that nobody responds well to threats as tensions mount over the looming execution of two Australian drug smugglers.

Australians' transfer to Indonesia execution site delayed

Jakarta - The transfer of two Australians to an Indonesian island prison for execution will not go ahead this week as planned, the attorney-general's office said Tuesday, as Canberra pressed for their lives to be spared.

Australians to be sent to Indonesia execution site this week

Jakarta - Two Australian drug traffickers will be transferred this week to an Indonesian high-security prison before their execution by firing squad, with several other foreigners to follow, the attorney-general's office said Monday.

Deception at the heart of African AIDS trial

A failed clinical trial in Africa has raised questions about how to test H.I.V. drugs and has posed some serious issues relating to medical ethics.

Major Ebola drug trial cancelled

As the number of Ebola cases declines, pharma company Chimerix is unable to find sufficient patients for its trial in Liberia of the antiviral drug brincidofovir.

Australia PM warns Indonesia of tough response to executions

Sydney - Millions of Australians are "sickened" by the imminent execution of two of its citizens by Indonesia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday, warning of a tough diplomatic response.

Mexico judge clears woman tortured into false charges

- A Mexican judge has exonerated a woman who was forced to falsely confess to organized crime charges by troops who tortured and sexually abused her, human rights groups said Tuesday.

Australian religious leaders' plea for Indonesia death row pair

Sydney - Senior religious leaders in Australia Sunday called on Indonesia to show mercy to two men on death row in Bali, as Indonesia's top diplomat in the country said their executions would go ahead.

Effectiveness of Tamiflu reviewed again

The somewhat controversial antiviral drug Tamiflu has performed better in a recent study compared to previous inquiries.

Police officer delivers pizza after arresting delivery driver

The Illinois Oswego Police Department has recounted details of an event earlier this week where an officer who had arrested a pizza delivery driver proceeded to complete the delivery to the customer.

Concerns continue with compounding pharmacies

Washington - Following widespread concerns during 2012 and 2013, a new report suggests there are still gaps in the oversight of U.S. compounding pharmacies.

Indonesia ready to execute foreigners after rejecting clemency

Jakarta - Indonesia is ready to execute seven foreign drug convicts on death row after their appeals for presidential clemency were rejected, an official said, in a move certain to set Jakarta on a collision course with international allies.

Woman finds 13 pounds of pot stashed away in her van

Alamogordo - A New Mexico woman was shocked when she found an old stash of marijuana in the van her family has owned for more than 13 years.

New understanding with anti-malarial drug resistance

London - Researchers have identified mutations associated with resistance to afrontline antimalarial drug called artemisinin. This is part of the fight back against anti-malarial drug resistance.

Thalidomide vicitims in Canada press further for justice Special

Toronto - Ninety-five of the victims from the Thalidomide scandal are alive and residing in Canada. They continue to push for justice and have spoken with Minister Ambrose. The Canadian government may soon agree to fund full support of the Thalidomide survivors.

Tackling cocaine addiction with bacteria-protein cocktail

In a new study, a modified bacterial protein is able to trigger a robust immune response against a cocaine-linked molecule in mice. The creators hope it will stop addicts from taking the drug.

Chemists 'unboil' eggs to prove how they can lower drug costs

Chemists from UC Irvine decided to unboil egg whites to demonstrate an innovation that could slash costs for cancer treatments, food production and other segments of the $160 billion global biotechnology industry.

Murders linked to organized crime fall: Mexico presidency

- Murders linked to organized crime dropped 33 percent in Mexico last year, official figures showed Friday, as the country struggles with a bloody drug war.

Spain seizes 11 tonnes of hashish in countrywide raid

Madrid - Spanish police said Friday they had seized 11 tonnes of hashish and detained 55 people across the country as part of an operation targeting a Moroccan drug trafficking ring.Police also seized two million euros ($2.

Abbott pleads for clemency over Australians executions

Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has pleaded with Indonesian authorities to reconsider the imminent execution of convicted Australian drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

New gang on the rise in troubled Mexico — Los Viagras

Apatzingan - A new armed group is on the rise in Mexico's violence-wracked Michoacan state. It's called Los Viagras, and its members say they are fighting for "social causes".