‘Audio trainspotters’ collect on-board announcements
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A new form of trainspotter has emerged in the form of train announcement fans who collect recordings of safety, security and timetable announcements and post them on social media. The Times notes that a recent recording of “Great Western Railway on-board announcements” posted to YouTube has been listened to more than 7,000 times by the anorak-audiophiles.
Tribe members compete to become fattest
A remote tribe in Ethiopia is participating in an annual competition with the aim of gaining as much weight as possible. According to LadBible, male members of the Bodi tribe drink nothing but fresh milk and blood from cows to pile on the pounds over the course of six months. They also refrain from sex and never leave their huts, to avoid burning calories. The winner is considered a hero for life.
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Cambodian authorities confiscate TikTok lion
Authorities in Cambodia have confiscated a pet lion that appeared in TikTok videos taken at a Phnom Penh villa. The 18-month-old male had been imported from overseas by the owner to be raised in his home, according to the government. Wildlife Alliance – an animal rescue non-government organisation that helped with the raid - said the lion’s canine teeth had also been removed, along with its claws. “People have no right to raise rare wildlife as pets”, environment ministry spokesperson Neth Pheaktra said.
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Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
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