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Eighty-hour weeks. Multi-billion dollar deals. Huge bonuses. Until recently, life as an investment banker in Hong Kong was

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With several UK-grown courgette varieties now at their most abundant, we wanted to share some of our favourite at-home recipes for dishing up the best of this season’s courgette harvest. Best enjoyed between the months of June and October, courgettes are the perfect vehicle for taking your cooking from summer into autumn. A versatile yet budget-friendly staple, they are equally delicious served raw, fried, roasted or even in cake. So, from comforting courgette fritto, courtesy of Brighton’s Tutto, to Acme Fire Cult’s grilled trombetta courgettes (elevated with the addition of a vadouvan butter) there’s something for everyone. Courgette fritto Recipe from: Tutto ,Brighton Ingredients: 6 large green courgettes Squeezy honey Grated pecorino Fresh rosemary Lemon wedges Salt and pepper Extra flour for dusting For the batter: 200g gluten-free self-raising flour 320g water 2g ground cumin 2g onion powder 2g salt Equipment: Deep fryer (or deep frying pan and a thermometer) Method: Using a bowl and whisk, mix all the dry ingredients for the batter. To prevent lumps, add half the water to create a smooth slurry, then add the rest and whisk to an even consistency. Slice the courgettes at an angle into long discs approximately 3-5mm thick. Set the deep fryer to 180C. Dust the courgettes lightly with some extra gluten-free flour and shake off the excess. Submerge in the batter, drip off the excess, and gently fry for 45 seconds on each side. Once golden brown, drain onto paper towel. To finish, arrange onto a plate, drizzle with honey and season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with grated pecorino and chopped fresh rosemary. Serve with a lemon wedge. Grilled trombetta courgettes with vadouvan butter Recipe from: Daniel Watkins, chef and co-founder at Acme Fire Cult, London Serves: 4 Ingredients: For the courgettes: 4 trombetta courgettes For the vadouvan butter (makes a portion for 8; freeze half): 400g dairy-free butter 220g shallots 11g madras curry powder 11g turmeric 6g each of the following: Fennel seeds Cumin seeds Salt Cardamom Black Peppercorns Mustard seeds Red chilli, finely diced 3 garlic cloves, minced Peel of 1 orange 2 inch ginger finely chopped For the chickpea purée: 800g tinned chickpeas 5 tbsp olive oil 2 bay leaves 1 tsp thyme leaves Juice of half a lemon Confit garlic (optional) For the tofu whip: 1 pack silken tofu Juice of 1 lemon Salt Method: For the trombetta courgettes: Simply wash and cut down into the desired portion size. Add a little olive oil and seasoning. Grill all sides until they start to soften, depending on temperature of fire. Trombettas lend themselves really well to live flames. For the vadouvan butter: Sweat down shallots and all the other ingredients, cook out slowly (without colour) for approximately 2-3 hours. Take off the heat and let it stand for 30 minutes. Once the mix has cooled a little, place the mix in a high speed blender until smooth. Taste, check the seasoning and add a little salt. This can be frozen and makes for a great accompaniment for most vegetables but particularly works well with the courgettes. For the chickpea purée: Boil the chickpeas in a pan of water with the bay leaves and thyme (approximately 30 mins). Drain the chickpeas, keeping back 2 tablespoons of the cooking water and discard the bay leaves. In a blender, purée the beans to a soft cream with the reserved cooking liquid and the olive oil, then squeeze in the lemon and salt to taste. At this stage, add more lemon juice, olive oil or confit garlic, if you like. For the tofu whip: Blend all ingredients in Thermomix, until smooth and cream-like. Store in a squeezy bottle. To finish: On a plate, take a generous amount of chickpea puree on to the center of the plate, place the grilled courgettes in the center. Spoon over generous amount of butter. To finish, add some tofu whip or creme fraiche. Whole roasted courgette with manouri cheese, tabbouleh and basil sauce Recipe by: Fionnan Flood, head chef at The Chelsea Pig, London Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 yellow courgette 100g freekeh (cracked wheat) 1 plum tomato 50g Manouri cheese (a Greek cheese that’s creamier than feta) 1 bunch basil 20g confit garlic 5g capers Olive oil Chives Parsley Lemon juice and zest Micro basil (for garnish) Method Top and tail your courgette then finely crosshatch score the inside flesh before putting aside. Boil (blanch) the freekeh in heavily salted water until tender and leave aside to cool down – ideally spread out onto a tray to speed the cooling process. Finely chop the chives and parsley, and also finely dice the flesh from the tomato (leaving aside the seeds). Make your basil sauce by blitzing in a food processor: basil, olive oil, confit garlic and capers – blending until smooth then adjusting the seasoning to taste. Now, assemble the tabbouleh – mixing the freekeh, chopped herbs and tomatoes. Next, add lemon juice and zest to taste, alongside seasoning (salt and pepper). In a frying pan on medium heat, place your courgette flesh side down, and colour it until golden brown. Place the pan in the oven for about 5 minutes at 180C until cooked through. For plating: place the basil sauce on the bottom on the dish (feel free to express yourself here), then add a few piles of tabbouleh around then place your courgette on top. Crumble some manouri cheese over, and add your micro basil (optional for garnish/presentation) . Read More How to cook to keep your gut healthy Leave Rick Stein alone – it’s totally reasonable to charge £2 for mayo and ketchup After Le Gavroche, Michel Roux is taking his cooking back to basics Three recipes from Michel Roux’s new fuss-free French cookbook London’s best new restaurants from the past 12 months The dish that defines me: Michele Pascarella’s Neapolitan ragu

While Formula 1 may be struggling to invigorate the spectacle of racing amid another anticipated year of Red Bull dominance, one area it is not struggling in is the off-track coffers. With more races than ever before, and the bumper profits that go with it, an inevitable side-effect is wandering eyes from afar. The sport’s governing body, the FIA, has thus opened an “expressions of interest” process in January for new potential teams to join the current 10-team grid, perhaps as soon as 2025. Enter Calvin Lo: a Hong Kong-based billionaire. CEO of R.E. Lee International, the world’s largest life insurance broker, the 45-year-old has been “hooked” on the sport since glimpsing Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari on TV in the early 2000s. A trip to Shanghai for the first Chinese Grand Prix in 2004 underlined that adoration. But now, spectating from the paddock isn’t enough. “I’m having serious discussions about getting involved right now,” he tells The Independent, from an office in Singapore, with all the paperwork lying in front of him. “There’s actually quite a few proposals in front of me right now to see how I can participate. “F1 needs more teams. There’s too many talents in motorsport to not have more teams. But when I go through it, it is highly aspirational and absolutely, very ambitious. Still, I’d loved to be involved financially.” But not at the cost of his reputation. Financial prudence and sustainability are at the forefront of his thinking, with the extended FIA deadline for applications closing on Sunday. The entrance fee for any new team is $200m, shared by all the current teams. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has previously remarked that $1bn is realistically required to fight at the front, a figure Lo agrees is “fair” given the basic costs of recruitment and car development. “I won’t get myself into that vicious cycle where I can’t hit those financial markers,” he says, adamantly. “Putting money into the team is not the difficult part. It’s making sure it’s sustainable; otherwise it’s embarrassing for everyone. It’s very intricate, even with an established group of people, with all the sponsorship and the detail. “But there’s so much potential in this part of the world – it’d be so advantageous to the Asian community and to the F1 ecosystem.” Audi have already confirmed their entry in 2026, taking over from Alfa Romeo (Sauber), while American giant Ford has partnered with Red Bull for the world champions’ new powertrains division. While Lo was tight-lipped about naming potential partnerships, he did emphasise his eagerness to join forces with a new team via the current FIA process. Confirmed bids from Andretti Cadillac, as well as a mooted submission from junior formula outfit Hitech GP, were ruled out. An association with Panthera Team Asia, therefore, seems most probable at this point. Lo also has a financial link with Williams’ F1 team, who were bought by private investment firm Dorilton Capital nearly three years ago, but non-disclosure agreements preclude him from elaborating further. He was insistent, however, that any new team would not present a conflict of interest. Instead, his new venture, likely based out of Asia, would be his primary focus. The continent is a “huge untapped market” for the sport, in Lo’s view, amid the Americanisation of the sport witnessed at the weekend in Miami. An academy for drivers and academics alike is also a target. “To truly make F1 global, we cannot forget this part of the world,” he says. “There are races, but the penetration is not high and it’s wasted. “I would love to have an Asian team with a base in the Pearl River Delta [the wealthiest region in south China]. The initial few seasons would be tough but it’s important for the sport to have more exposure and commitment here. “It’d be great to have an academy here. Recruiting talents not just for F1, but aeronautics and legal avenues. For young people to be exposed to this kind of world, it could change someone’s life. “With [F1’s new regulations in] 2026 and the net-zero target of 2030, now is the perfect time to be involved behind the scenes.” Working in the shadows is just how Lo operates. Widely publicised as the “secretive” or “under-the-radar” billionaire – who has a net worth of $1.7bn (£1.3bn) according to Forbes – he covets privacy, despite a lucrative lifestyle which includes owning a suite of supercars and a collection of tip-top champagne, with a single batch costing $230m. “If I go into F1, you won’t see me,” he reveals. “It’s not my style. It’s also partly to do with my main business and working with clients. “In my view, the wealthier you are… you don’t go out and flaunt it. Well some do, most don’t!” McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes there will be at least four prospective teams interested in joining the sport, while F1’s regulations cater for only two more spots. Lo has been included in an initial application to play a financial role – even if he won’t be the face of said new team – and the FIA intends on making a decision about which teams will be granted a shot at the big time by the end of June. “By 2026, it will be a different world we live in and it’d be pretty amazing to be part of that change,” he concludes. “It’s now about looking at all the plans and making a decision truly from a financial point of view. “The skeleton is already there. It’s now just getting everyone to commit themselves.” Read More FIA formally opens applications for new teams to join F1 grid Andretti joins forces with General Motors to target Formula 1 entry FIA boss ‘surprised’ at ‘adverse reaction’ to Andretti’s F1 bid with Cadillac Aussie billionaire David Dicker enters race for new team to join F1 grid Ford to rejoin Formula 1 as engine partner for Red Bull from 2026

As well as being exciting, the start of a new school year can be very scary for some kids – as the toxic dynamic between bullies and the children they target could resume. The prospect of a new year of bullying, or the first experience of being a target for school bullies, can blight the lives of pupils and become something that terrifies both them and their parents, who are often unaware of the persecution of their child. Indeed, new research by the anti-bullying charity The Diana Award for its #BacktoBullying campaign has revealed 65% of children are scared of going back to school, with a third saying the thought of returning to school makes them want to cry. And it’s not just the kids who are scared – the study found half of parents dread sending their children back to school due to bullying. “When the new school year starts it can be an exciting and sometimes unsettling time for children,” points out Martha Evans, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA). “There will be new pupils, new class groupings and, for some, new schools. It can be a worrying time and we’re often told friendships and bullying are high on the list of worries. “Parents should be aware of the signs that their child might be on the receiving end of bullying behaviour, and know how to respond.” Evans says research suggests being bullied can have serious implications for a child’s life chances, with the effects often lasting into adulthood. That’s why anti-bullying training and programmes for schools, including Anti-Bullying Week (November 13-17), are so vital for schools to help tackle the problem. Evans says it’s useful for parents who are concerned about bullying to understand exactly what bullying is, as “it’s not just ‘falling out’ or ‘banter’”. The ABA defines bullying as: “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.” What are the signs of bullying? Children might not want to talk about what’s going on, but Evans says warning signs of bullying may include… Coming home with torn clothes or missing belongings. “This could show your child is being picked on physically,” says Evans. Unexpectedly not wanting to go to school. Evans points out that while most bullying starts face-to-face at school, it often then goes online, too. Complaining of unexplained illnesses or headaches. “The stress of bullying can create physical symptoms, or the child may make up illnesses to avoid being bullied at school,” warns Evans. Becoming quiet and withdrawn. Evans says worrying about hurtful behaviour can cause deep anxiety, and children may look upset when they use their electronic devices. “Online bullying is particularly hurtful,” explains Evans, “as it follows a child even after they’ve left the school gates and can continue 24/7.” Children who are being bullied may want to leave for school much earlier than necessary or come home late, says Evans. “Avoiding other children arriving or leaving school is a sure sign something is wrong,” she points out. What should you do if your child is being bullied? Stay calm Evans says it’s important to keep your cool, even though you’re probably feeling angry and upset that your child is being targeted. “You should focus on gently speaking to your child and listening carefully,” she explains. “Your job is to reassure them that it can be sorted out.” Get the facts Talk calmly to your child and establish what’s happened and who did what, and when. Evans advises parents and children to keep a diary of when the bullying happens, and explains: “It will be useful to see the pattern of bullying over time and to share with the school, if and when you speak to them.” Tell them not to retaliate Evans says parents shouldn’t encourage their child to retaliate to bullying, especially through violence, as it can have negative and unpredictable results. “They may be hurt even further, or be seen by those in authority as the problem,” she warns, and suggests instead that parents tell them to walk away and get help. Be aware of mental stress Don’t underestimate the effect bullying can have on a child’s mental health and keep an eye out for warning signs. “Bullying can have a considerable impact on a child’s mental health,” warns Evans, “so if your child is showing signs of serious distress, such as depression, anxiety and self-harm, always see a GP.” Find out what your child wants Parents should ask their child what they want to happen next, advises Evans, and help them to identify their choices, the potential next steps to take, and the skills they have to help stop the bullying. Speak to the school Ask to see the school’s anti-bullying policy, so both you and your child know the process for getting things sorted out, advises Evans. Don’t let them blame themselves Sometimes children can think they’re to blame in some way for being bullied, but Evans stresses: “Make it clear that bullying is never acceptable and if a child or young person is being bullied then it’s others who are to blame, not them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What women should do if they experience violence online Athlete who ran over 200km through the desert shares advice for running in a heatwave Women being invited to help shape the future of reproductive healthcare – from period pain to menopause

Singapore’s economy unexpectedly expanded in the second quarter, staving off fears of a technical recession in the city-state

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 2, 2023--

Air Canada has issued an apology after two passengers were told to sit in poorly cleaned seats that had been covered in vomit on a previous flight.