That little bit of vandalism will cost you $25,000

Colosseum

A Russian tourist found out the hard way that the Italians don't take kindly to vandalism of their national landmarks, like the Colosseum.

The 42-year-old man was arrested and fined 20,000 euros ($25,000) after he carved a large letter "K" into a wall at the building, which dates back to Roman era. A guard caught him in the act as he drew the 25-centimeter (nearly 10-inch) letter, according to The Moscow Times.

This is actually the fifth incident of vandalism just this year at the Colosseum. Similar reports have been made at Rome's other archaeological treasures, prompting officials to draw a hard line for anyone who seeks to make themselves part of history in this way.

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A North Korean kidnap plot was foiled at the Paris airport

North Korea's purges of out-of-favor leaders have long been legendary, and last year's purge of the country's former No. 2, Jang Song-thaek, attracted a raft of attention. But the reverberations of that purge continue to be felt — and all the way to Paris. According to a report from the Independent, French officials foiled an attempt by North Korea to kidnap the son of a former aide of Jang's, who was also executed, from the university where he was studying, near Paris.

The North Koreans were on the verge of success, when the unnamed man, who is in his early 20s, managed to escape his captors. The details of his escape aren't entirely clear, but there had been some speculation he was aided by French border agents at Charles de Gaulle airport. He has disappeared from sight since his kidnapping, as have a handful of other students, and is believed to be living under the protection of the French government.

Sometimes you adopt a dog; sometimes the dog adopts you

A team of Swedish trekkers going by the name of Team Peak Performance was two stages from the end of a 430-mile journey through Amazonian jungle when they came across a stray dog. Deciding they could spare a little nourishment for the golden-yellow canine, they tossed him a meatball and thought that was that. But, it turns out, the dog had an entirely different idea.

PRI's The World had the story, and amazing photos, of the team's last two stages — with the dog dutifully following behind. Even when they tried to complete the last stage, in kayaks, down a river, the dog followed, paddling as fast as her could to keep up. Eventually, one of the team members pulled him into his boat and brought him along for the finish. Now the dog, named Arthur, is going home to Sweden with his new friend.

If you visit Russia, be prepared to eat some mayo

Mayonnaise was first introduced to Russia when the country was ruled by the tsars — but through Communist revolutions, the fall of the Iron Curtain and the rise of Vladimir Putin, it has remained a must-have on Russian menus. In fact, the average Russian eats 2.5 kilograms — more than 5.5 pounds — of mayo each year. Far and away more than any country.

The Guardian reports that a group of Russian ex-pats in London gathered recently at Pushkin House, a 1950s era club that celebrates Russian culture, to discuss their shared love of mayo. Part of its endurance through so many eras is because of how hard it was to get good food. A little bit of mayo made bland and dull food taste just a bit more flavorful. While the food scene has loosened up in recent years, mayo still has an important place on every family table.

What we're seeing on social

Weather around the world

Flash flooding in southern Morocco, near the tourist center of Marrakesh, has left at least 31 people dead, according to Al Jazeera. Torrential rains Sunday and Monday also destroyed many traditional mud homes in the region as well. Many people are still missing, with searches still underway.

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