A potpourri of “other stuff”:  A archeological landmark in Central America is wiped off the face of the earth, and you won’t believe the reason “Why”; Marriage Equality gets a foothold in two sides of the Western Hemisphere;  Reactions comes to the mayor of Osaka’s bone-headed comments about Japan’s wartime atrocities.

A highway building company leveled a 2,300-year-old Mayan Pyramid in Belize in Central America, and used it for gravel road filler.  Police are investigating and charges might be filed against the construction company that bulldozed the temple, which was located on private property. Jaime Awe of the Belize Institute of Archaeology said, “It’s a feeling of incredible disbelief because of the ignorance and the insensitivity.  They were using this for road fill, it’s like being punched in the stomach, it’s just so horrendous.”

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has imposed states of emergency in three areas where Boko Haram Islamist militants have effectively taken control.  Boko Haram attacks killed at least 40 people so far this week.  Jonathan will move more troops into those regions and will take over any building suspected to house the militants.

Brazil’s National Council of Justice has ruled that marriage licenses should not be denied to same sex couples.  The ruling could still be challenged in the Supreme Court, but the Congress is considering legislation to legalize marriage equality and bringing Brazil one step closer to its neighbors Argentina and Uruguay, which have legalized gay marriages.

In the US, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed legislation making the North Star State the 12th state in the nation, and the third in three weeks, to allow same-sex marriage.  Protesters carried a paper tombstone reading “R.I.P. Marriage 2013”, although they were completely unable to explain how theirs or anyone else’s marriage would be affected by other peoples’ happiness.  Churches are not required to perform same sex ceremonies when it takes effect on 1 August.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says a military response is a possibility if foreign submarines enter Japanese waters without permission.  This comes after Japan's Defense Ministry spotted a sub in the waters near Okinawa.  The government would not confirm media reports it was a Chinese sub.

China, South Korea, and other nations that suffered under Japanese occupation in World War II are condemning Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto for defending the sexual enslavement of hundreds of thousands of foreign women for Japanese troops as “necessary”.  The federal government distanced itself from Hashimoto, who also claims he told a US Military officer that American troops should take advantage prostitution in Okinawa.  The Pentagon called his idea “stupid”.

For the second time in two weeks, a US Military member in charge of fighting sex harassment is being investigated on sex charges.  Sergeant First Class was responsible for handling sexual-assault cases at Fort Hood in Texas.  He’s facing allegations of abusive sexual contact, and forcing a subordinate into prostitution, according to a US official familiar with the case.