By Elsa Buchanan, International Politics reporter Charlie Hebdo’s “survivors’ issue” sold out within minutes as readers jostled and elbowed their way to grab a copy, but supporters warn this upsurge of solidarity could be short-lived. Demand for what is being called the "survivors' issue" of the Charlie Hebdo magazine was high across France this morning. “I was fifth in the queue when I arrived at 6.45am to buy Charlie Hebdo, and the Maison de la Presse (newsagent) didn’t open until 7.15am,” explains Marie-Christine...

By Bill Lytton  Before it was shadowed by the heinous attacks in Paris, France last week, it emerged that the NHS is in a grim state. Numerous hospitals across the UK declared major incidents. Inevitably, a showdown ensued between the incumbent guardians of finance, the Conservatives, and the self-appointed angels of the NHS, Labour. The stand-off was a trite, if not predictable, medley of self-defence strategies and outright accusations. In sum, Ed and Dave are both incompetent – according to...

Sports Editor David de Winter and regular columnist Richard de Winter take a look at the Ballon d'Or result, the transfer window, England's chances at the Cricket World Cup and the first Tennis Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. https://soundcloud.com/the-london-economic/tle-sports-podcast-130115

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor I was brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne and watching pub fights escalate was a common occurrence. Surprisingly the two leaders reminded me of one of these skirmishes, albeit it in an Oxbridge, educated duel way, rather than a bottling on Shields Road, Byker. After watching a number of these confrontations, the violence tends to only escalate once the door staff have broken it up, then both parties can really throw insults at each other,...

By Dr Nigel Mellor Buddhist economics will be forever associated with the work of Ernst Friedrich (Fritz) Schumacher. He brought us the powerful ideas of ‘intermediate technology’ and ‘small is beautiful’. In promoting ‘limits to growth’ and ‘sustainable development’, he was far ahead of his time. Schumacher wanted to restore the dignity of work, within economies built around a ‘middle way’, with ‘appropriate scale’ production. These concepts helped build his enlightened Buddhist economics which is still very relevant today (the...

New research has revealed that nearly three-quarters of men have no idea the lengths their wife or girlfriend goes to look her best. The study found most men are completely oblivious to the extensive beauty routine their other half goes through on a daily basis, with waxing or bleaching of moustaches among the pampering habits which escape men as well as extensive plucking of eyebrows, nose hair and chin whiskers. Wearing push-up bras, false eyelashes and control pants were also tricks ladies...

The Vegan Society has today warned that a dairy milk crisis could be imminent as sales of plant-based milks increase exponentially and consumers demand healthy and compassionate alternatives to traditional milk. The retail price of milk has now slipped below the cost price and is lower than some bottled water, signalling that its production is becoming increasingly unmanageable. The largest dairy firm First Milk has delayed payments to farmers as the price of a four-pint carton has slipped to £1 with...

By Georgette Culley What happened when our  feature writer  went to celebrity hairstylist in Knightsbridge salon? Ever since I can remember I’ve been dying my hair. First, I went bleach blonde, then I went Ginger (yes I actually asked to be ginger), then I went brunette, pink and every colour in between. Needless to say, my hair isn’t in the best condition and is dryer than the Gobi desert. No matter what expensive products I put on it, it still looks shit...

By Emma Silverthorn  @HouseOf_Gazelle Like Joanna Hogg’s first two feature films Exhibition (2013) is a spot-on meditation focused on British middle-class mores. However this time, instead of sending her characters on holiday, she shows them within their natural environment. Their home-an ultra modernist design by architect James Melvin to whom the film is dedicated-is as the director says, ‘very much the third character in the story.’ But after twenty years of living within this unique creation artistic couple D-played by...