Some young Americans have launched an utterly sinister trend: organising fights between homeless people ("bum fights"), then posting the video of the clash on YouTube. Read More

From the Bristol "beatboxer" to the Indian percussionist family, here's our selection of the best buskers from around the world, now available off the streets and online... Read more and see the performances.

A freakish cold spell in the Moroccan town of Beni Mellal has already killed at least ten people this year. Our Observer there condemns the inaction of the public authorities. Read more and see his photos...

Nike Japan has bought a run down park in central Tokyo and renamed it the Nike Park. The multinational supplier plans to build a skate park and cafe, introduce an entrance fee, and kick out a group of homeless dwellers who live there in shacks. Read more...

An area that was designated for 18 homeless people from California last July became a "city" of tents harbouring around 400 homeless residents from all over the US. A former resident of the refuge explains why hundreds of people are forced to live in "third world conditions", and another tells us that linking the issue to the subprime crisis is just media hype. Read more...

The encampment