Free Republic

A grandson of Red Bull's late co-creator Chaleo Yoovidhaya has been arrested on suspicion of running over a policeman with a Ferrari in Bangkok. The Thai police officer died after he and his motorbike were dragged some distance down a road. Police said they had followed a petrol trail to the family estate where they detained Vorayuth Yoovidhaya, 27. Bangkok's police chief took over the inquiry as a lower-ranked officer was alleged to have covered up the matter. The police superintendent involved was transferred to another post after a bogus suspect was detained.

Before there was Red Bull, there was Krating Daeng, a sweet energy drink sold in Thailand and a few other countries. Its labels feature two red bulls charging one another. Chaleo Yoovidhya, who with an Austrian entrepreneur transformed his non-carbonated concoction into the global brand Red Bull, died of natural causes Saturday, according to MCOT, Thailand's national news agency. Chaleo was in his 80s. The self-made business mogul was ranked 205th this year in the list of Forbes billionaires, with a net worth estimated at $5 billion. That placed him third in Thailand. Chaleo founded TC Pharmaceuticals. Chaleo and Dietrich...

The FDA is expected to declare caffeine additives in alcoholic drinks as unsafe this week, according to Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. This will effectively ban such products. But it’s unclear how effective the ban will be. The alcoholic energy drink craze developed from nightclub patrons mixing Red Bull and vodka to stay up partying long into the night. Bartenders will continue to serve up such cocktails, and it’s not exactly rocket science for people at home.

There's growing concern among school officials and health care workers that teen use of energy drinks such as Red Bull and Spike Shooter are early warning signs of the willingness to take risks. According to researchers, high consumption of energy drinks is associated with aggressive and risky behaviors, including substance abuse, violence, and unprotected sex. No one is saying yet that these energy drinks cause such behaviors, but parents should probably be aware that teens who are willing to abuse caffeine may be more likely to engage in other risky behaviors as well. The research is published in the March...

Red Bull may claim to “give you wings” but drinking too much of the popular energy drink may also lead to heart damage, a study suggests. A study of 30 university students aged between 20 and 24 years old found that drinking just one 250ml sugar-free can of the caffeinated energy drink increased the “stickiness” of the blood and raised the risk of blood clots forming. Using tests to measure blood pressure and the state of blood vessels around the body, the Australian researchers said that after drinking one can participants had shown a cardiovascular profile similar to that of...

Killer flying video

An angry Italian priest has persuaded soft drinks company Red Bull to withdraw an advertisement setting its product in a nativity scene on the grounds it is disrespectful to Christianity. Father Marco Damanti, from Sicily, wrote to the makers of the caffeinated energy drink denouncing their commercial as "a blasphemous act" and said on Monday he had received a prompt reply promising to remove it from Italian television.The advert depicted four wise men, instead of three, visiting Mary and the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The fourth wise man bore a can of the soft drink."The image of the sacred family...

We've been inundated with media requests about the source of the now-famous "HALP US JON CARRY" banner. (I've already done a live shot on Fox News, and given interviews for John Gibson's show and "Inside Edition," which should air later today.) **UPDATE The MSM catches up. Even CNN is reporting Troops respond to 'Jon Carry' with plea for 'halp'; while CBS is reporting "Minnesota Guard Members Mock Kerry In 'Irak' Photo", The AP has put a story on the wire, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is also catching up: The photo initially was posted on the website of Milwaukee talk radio...

UPDATE: Reader David Ward writes: Thank you for your great work and especially the coverage of the picture of the soldiers mocking "Jon Carry." My daughter is on the far right in the picture. We spoke to her last night and again this morning. They are quite astounded at the coverage. They were furious at Kerry's remarks and wanted to do something. I guess they did. Yours truly, David Ward

Two-second penalties for both Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher set up a thrilling qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon. With the two key championship contenders eliminated before the top-ten shootout, the honours for pole position fell right at the very end to McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, whose last-gasp lap of 1m 19.599s came just as Felipe Massa looked to have bagged the first Formula One pole of his career. Also, Hungarian Grand Prix stewards have cancelled American Scott Speed’s three fastest qualifying times as punishment for impeding another driver during Saturday’s session. The move means the Toro...

Kimi Raikkonen repeated his 2005 qualifying position for McLaren at Hockenheim on Saturday afternoon to beat Michael Schumacher. But with Felipe Massa third, Ferrari look very threatening despite too much oversteer in the final session, and everything will depend on fuel loads on Sunday.On paper, Ferrari look set for a strong run tomorrow, and as in Indianapolis, Fernando Alonso has a lot to do to safeguard his championship lead.

F1 Grand Prix is on American soil. Don't miss the race LIVE in its entirety from Indianapolis Motor Speedway! SUNDAY: 12:30pm ET on SPEED Channel!

Barcelona is a circuit that every Formula One team knows well as they complete thousands of kilometres there in testing throughout the season. The mix of high-speed corners, a very long straight and an abrasive track surface, makes the Circuit de Catalunya a uniquely ‘complete’ circuit. Finding the right set-up compromise is always a tricky business at the Spanish Grand Prix. World champion Fernando Alonso was the fastest race driver in Friday afternoon’s second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya. In front of a huge home crowd, the Spaniard finished third in his Renault, behind Honda’s and Red Bull’s...

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher said that Ferrari was ready for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday. Giancarlo Fisichella has pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix, with Jenson Button alongside him and the Williams of Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber behind them on the grid.

Michael Schumacher equalled the late Ayrton Senna’s record for pole positions when he took his 65th here in Bahrain this afternoon during Formula One racing’s first knockout qualifying session. Fellow Ferrari racer Felipe Massa will start alongside him, with Honda’s Jenson Button and Renault world champion Fernando Alonso on row two.

WESTERN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq(Jan. 9, 2006) -- For more than two weeks, Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conducted sweeps along the Euphrates River shore to disrupt terrorist operations in the area. The battalion-wide Operation Red Bull consisted of Iraqi soldiers and U.S. Marines in the “Triad” area of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana searching more than 20 kilometers of shoreline. The search revealed 75 weapons caches terrorists planned to use during attacks in the region. Since the battalion came to the area in early September, they have concentrated on securing and maintaining their...

A load of Bull in France Red Bull ... could be banned in France By JOHN SCOTT FIZZY drink makers were frothing yesterday after European judges ruled France can BAN energy drink Red Bull. The coffee-loving country says the drink — which sold 213 million cans in the UK last year — has too much CAFFEINE. And a Red Bull insider commented: “It’s pretty rich when you look at the amount of coffee they guzzle.” The drink has been outlawed in France for ten years. The European Court of Justice yesterday supported their decision because of fears by French health...