By William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) -British consumers picked up the pace of their spending last month and sales volumes over

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that he thought he’d never race in F1 again and has to remove “all ego and status” this year in order to secure a return to the grid. After 11-and-a-half consecutive seasons with a seat in F1, the likeable Aussie was dropped by McLaren at the end of the last campaign following a disappointing two-year spell and failed to find another team to take him on as one of their two race drivers. At the age of 33, he was forced to swallow his pride and accept a role as reserve driver at Red Bull, doing “everything the drivers are doing… other than the driving”, in pursuit of one of those 20 golden seats on the grid. And last week his chance came as he was chosen to replace the axed Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri, officially on loan from Red Bull to their sister team for the remainder of the season, meaning he will be in the cockpit at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. It is a lifeline back into F1 and even though he ultimately only missed 10 races, the now-34-year-old admits he thought his career was over. “After Abu Dhabi last year, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever race again,” Ricciardo revealed to The Independent in an exclusive interview. “But coming back this year, I removed all ego and status. “I do think this year will be the best thing that’s ever happened to me and it will boost me now for the rest of my career. It honestly came at the right time… everything happens for a reason.” Ricciardo tried to make the most of his enforced time off, escaping the mental and physical rigours of F1 for a life of attending Super Bowls, PGA Tour golf events and Met Galas in New York. He enjoyed those moments, and loved being able to return to Australia for his birthday earlier this month for the first time in 17 years, but the competitive itch soon returned. “I’ve really enjoyed this time off, to have the time for myself,” he said. “Last week I went home to Australia for my birthday, I haven’t done that since I was 17. “It honestly came at the right time. Look, I wish those two years [at McLaren] were better. But it’s given me a mental break because the competition is intense, as much as we love it. It consumes a lot of you so I feel for me to bring my cortisol levels down a little bit, I just feel a lot more balanced this year. “I didn’t want to see a gym for a while. I just wanted to eat and drink with my mates. Out of principle, I wanted to give myself a break. Just to allow myself to put on a few kgs. It felt really good, I trained just once in December and January. “I got to February and remember thinking ‘yeah, I’m done.’ I’d had enough. I didn’t feel like drinking every weekend and partying all the time. I wasn’t going crazy but I thought ‘this life isn’t for me just yet’. “And then I became very self-motivated. I wanted it to come from me, I didn’t want someone telling me to run. I had this urge and desire to be back on the grid – and I’ve never enjoyed training so much. I’ve got more energy to train and the desire has increased, especially not being jet-lagged every fricking week!” After an impressive Silverstone tyre test at the British Grand Prix in F1’s fastest car, Red Bull chiefs Helmut Marko and Christian Horner swiftly made the call to get Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri. And the potential carrot is even greater than a permanent seat at one of the grid’s backmarkers. It’s an open secret that Horner is becoming increasingly frustrated with Sergio Perez, as the Mexican’s increasingly poor performances aren’t giving Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen the support he needs on his unstoppable march to the title. The second driver slot at Red Bull could well open up as soon as the end of this season and, with impressive performances at their sister team, Ricciardo could put himself in position to be sharing a garage with Verstappen. He admits that the ultimate ambition – race wins, maybe even a world championship – is still at the forefront of his mind. “That is the reason I would come back,” added Ricciardo. “I still believe I can do it. I feel like the Red Bull Daniel. He is still here.” Read More Daniel Ricciardo on his F1 comeback, the moment he decided to race again and how he wants his career to end Red Bull has handed Daniel Ricciardo the first step to Sergio Perez’s seat Daniel Ricciardo returns to F1 as he replaces Nyck de Vries

As per the county coroner, the reason for their deaths remains uncertain, but he suspects malnutrition and exposure to high altitude

TL;DR: Now that summer is winding down, Amazon is offering up to 22% off popular

TL;DR: A range of online courses from the University of British Columbia are available for

Rather than being invented by Big Donut, the 2 June celebration traces its roots to World War One.

The secret to living a longer life isn’t found in some elixir or fountain of youth. Rather, it’s said to be found in Blue Zones. Blue Zones are the five regions in the world where people are known to live long, healthy lives. These areas are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece and Loma Linda, California. Here, the foods people eat aren’t just part of some diet - it’s a way of life. The term Blue Zone was popularised by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic journalist who travelled the world studying the cultures of these thriving communities. In a 2020 master class hosted by the Global Wellness Summit, Buettner shared the foundation of living in a Blue Zone: “The big epiphany of all these Blue Zones is that long-lasting health is very rarely successfully pursued; it ensues.” Now, not everyone can pack their bags and whisk themselves off to Italy, but there are many ways to adapt your daily routine to the Blue Zone lifestyle. Here’s what we can learn from these regions: Fibre, fibre, fibre Foods rich in fibre are prominently featured in the diets of those living in a Blue Zone. Beans and whole grains like brown rice and quinoa are high-fibre ingredients that can lengthen your life. Fruits, vegetables, and legumes are also natural sources of fibre. Fibre plays a key role in promoting gut health, managing your weight, and reducing cholesterol levels. Research shows that children and adults need at least 20 to 30 grams of fibre per day, but most Americans get only about 15 grams a day. Whether it’s garbanzo beans in Greek hummus to black beans in Costa Rican soup, increasing your fibre intake is key to living a longer life. Move naturally You don’t need to work out at the gym five times a week to increase your longevity. In fact, residents in Blue Zone areas rarely workout at all, as their exercise mostly comes from activities done throughout the day, such as walking and gardening. Incorporating 20 minutes of movement in your daily routine is just one way to live the Blue Zone lifestyle. Maintain a positive outlook On average, Americans spend nearly five to six hours on their phones a day, from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to bed. Instead, begin your daily routine with a positive meditation, or separate the work day with mini stress breaks. In Blue Zones, residents shed their stress by engaging in sacred daily rituals, such as remembering their ancestors in Okinawa or taking naps in Costa Rica. Or, do like the Sardinians do: happy hour. Connect with others Curating a social circle is one of the main pillars of living in a Blue Zone. In an era of Zoom calls and work from home, connecting with those around us has proven to be a little more difficult than in years past. Even if it’s just a small group, engaging with others who keep you active, eat a similar high-fibre diet, and care about you on a bad day can help you live until you’re 100. Read More 11 best healthy food subscription boxes delivered right to your door 10 best exercise bikes for smashing your fitness goals at home Five waste-free recipes to take your Veganuary up a notch What are Blue Zones and how do they impact your health? Three healthy recipes to get back on track after summer Best burgers in London: Where to eat top patties in the city

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. will recruit more cabin crew from mainland China and widen the use of Mandarin

TikTok is a breeding ground for inspiration, trends, and hacks – especially when it comes to food. Now, a former McDonald's chef has opened up about a secret burger hack, and people can't get enough. In a viral clip shared on the platform that's racked up thousands of views, Mike Haracz (@chefmikeharacz) shared his inside knowledge on the "10.35 burger". Mike responded to a question which asked whether there was "some sort of secret menu or item that's served between breakfast and lunch." The chef went on to inform viewers that there is, and some people refer to it as the "10.35 burger". "You can get a burger with an egg on it," he said, adding that it would be more likely if the customer is familiar with the restaurant, or knows the staff working there. Mike said that he pushed for eggs on burgers to be a thing, and has data to prove the burger was in demand – but his idea was later reportedly shut down. @chefmikeharacz Replying to @staticprevails1 Former #McDonalds corporate chef talks about the 10:35 burger. #mcdonaldshacks #mcdonaldssecrets #mcdonaldsdrivethru #mcdonaldsworker #mcdonaldshack #mcdonaldslife #McDonaldsMenu #mcdonaldsmenuhack #McDonaldsMenuHacks #DoubleCheeseburger #EggMcMuffin #McDouble #FYP His video was inundated with comments from fellow TikTokers, with one writing: "Love an egg on a burger! McDonald’s missed out." "As a former Corp Kitchen Manager you are 100 per cent right about the egg and burger! Nice margins on a $1 add egg as well," a second added. Many more noted how their local McDonald's already sell the burger. "In New Zealand Mcd's we have a limited-run burger called the kiwi burger. It has an egg on it and is very popular," one said, while another commented: "What's crazy is they put eggs on burgers in Japan. I don't know why they would say no to adding them to American menus. Another claimed: "In Maderia Portugal, egg on burgers is normal, as an upgrade." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The war over "Taco Tuesday" may be heating up now, but its origins date back several decades.

'They knew the market better than anybody. August III knew that sports and humor were the way to get in,' said Harry Schuhmacher

Concierge medicine, a business model in which patients pay a membership fee to have a direct relationship with a doctor — used to feel like something just for the well-to-do