The idea of “democracy promotion” is noble, but Washington’s efforts in Cuba – emphasizing clandestine and covert operations to drive regime change – have wasted a couple hundred million dollars, cost the United States valuable prestige on the island, and hurt relations with Costa Rica and other countries.
Concerns by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) became a reality on Friday as the Tax Administration issued an order to businesses to begin charging sales tax on all tourism activities.
A joint operation of several police units last Sunday led to the seizure of 200,000 packs of cigarettes that entered the country without paying taxes through the Caribbean port of Limón.
Citizen Action Party lawmaker Marvin Atencio wants to make Costa Rica the first country in Central America to legalize medical marijuana and generate millions of dollars for public institutions along the way.
Mother's Day, celebrated on Friday in Costa Rica, is one of the country's most popular – and lucrative – holidays, with some businesses offering month-long special pricing on items and services. But a study released Monday by the Economy Ministry found that more than a quarter of businesses inspected in the San José area failed to follow the rules on promotional sales.
Robin Williams, the Juilliard-trained actor and uncontainably exhibitionist comic who became one of the most dazzling all-around talents in show business, winning an Academy Award for a dramatic role in "Good Will Hunting" and an Emmy for his stand-up work, was found dead Monday at his home in Tiburon, Calif. He was 63.
Ever since bursting into the public consciousness as the manic, rainbow-suspender-wearing TV alien in the sitcom "Mork & Mindy," he seemed to be permanently toggling between two points on the emotional dial: wild, hyperkinetic looniness or unabashed sincerity.
