News in brief

Jonathan Rest

LONDON has begun battening down the hatches ahead of the G20 Summit, which starts in the capital on Wednesday. A massive police operation has been launched with officers from six forces drafted in to assist ScotlandYard as climate change activists, anti-war campaigners, trade unionists and students plan their marches. April 1, traditionally April Fool’s Day, has already been dubbed Financial Fools Day with activists said to be focusing their attentions on the Bank of England and the European Climate Exchange. With fears of major disruptions around the City’s Square Mile, banks and other financial institutions are also on a high security alert, with many taking the precaution of boarding up (as below).