Rome squat standoff intensifies as heatwave grips capital

Hundreds of people have spent a week sleeping in tents in the Rome heat amid a standoff between Giorgia Meloni's far-right government and local politicians over the future of Italy's most high-profile centre for squatters, according to the Guardian.

The Spin Time building, which provides homes, food banks and after-school clubs, has been locked out by the authorities, leaving residents to camp outside in temperatures that have pushed the capital toward the highest heat alert of the summer.

The standoff comes as Italy places all 27 of its major cities under the highest heat alert, with the fourth heatwave of the summer edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C, the Guardian reported.