Renowned Cuban artist Tania Bruguera surprised a Bogota audience in September when she lined up three people directly involved in the Colombian conflict for a chat. The real performance however, started when a waitress emerged with a tray of neatly organised lines of cocaine, and began offering them to members of the audience. Read more and see the video...

When a rancher from northwest Denver went looking for lost cattle a couple of weeks ago, he stumbled upon what appeared to be a mass of weeds in the middle of a state forest. In fact, it was a mass of weed - over 5,100 plants, weighing in at over a tonne. Read more...

If you've never heard of Skins Parties, chances are you're a dinosaur of 25 or over. Directly inspired by the British teen drama "Skins", the parties have been described as the craziest thing in French nightlife, where girls are loose and drugs roam free. But are they really all they are made up to be, or have they turned into commercialized gigs? Read more...

Guinea-Bissau awoke on Monday morning without a president. Head of State Joao Bernando Vieira was gunned down as he tried to escape from a group of soldiers who attacked his home. Our Observers from Guinea-Bissau speak about the tragic events of the day. Read more...

As antiretroviral treatments continue to progress the AIDS scare is finally calming down in the West. On the other side of the world however, the virus continues to kill. In Bangladesh, it's drug users who are falling prey to this devastating disease. Our Observer in Dhaka sent us these arresting images. See the photos...

 

The UK government has launched a £1m hard-hitting campaign in the hope of warning British teenagers off cocaine. But a 16-year-old in the country tells us it won't stop her from using the drug. Read more and see the campaign videos...

Cannabis is already used as a pain-reliever in several countries, but only for people undergoing treatment for serious illnesses. Now, a British researcher has proved that the drug is also an efficient solution for chronic pain like arthritis. The news has reignited the debate over whether to legalise cannabis for therapeutic means. Read more...

One of our Observers in Colombia reacts to the return of El Espectador, an independent newspaper which, according to him, is capable of criticising Colombia's political and social elites and is not afraid of exposing their links to the drugs trade. The paper's return is a welcome relief for the daily Colombian press, which until now has bowed under pressure from the nation's powerful narco industry. Read more and see the newspaper's inspiring new advert.

If you're trekking across the Colombian mountains we'd strongly recommend a visit to a "lab" - or a shed - where for a few pesos, farmers will tell you how to make cocaine. Read more and see the video.

An insight into the daily life of American soldiers in Iraq. In this video, filmed from the top of an army vehicle, backstreet vendors try to peddle Viagra and hashish to the soldiers. See the video and read the comment from a soldier who served in Iraq…