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John Malkovich directs epic play ‘Leopoldstadt’ in Latvia

“Leopoldstadt” is a gripping play about the changing fortunes of a Jewish family in Austria. In 2023, it won a number of Tony Awards, including for best play. Now, a new production of “Leopoldstadt” is being performed in Riga, Latvia. And the choice of director has helped it draw a lot of attention.

Ukrainian families spend 10 days with the Children's Hospital program in Riga, Latvia.

‘I’m feeling free’: Families from Ukraine find respite from war in Latvia

Ukraine
In eastern Latvia, the closer you get to the Russian border, the more monuments to fallen Soviet soldiers you’ll find.

As war rages on in Ukraine, some ethnic Russians in Latvia say they feel marginalized

Ukraine
Cars line up to cross from Latvia into Russia

Desperate Ukrainians crossing into Latvia while Russians are blocked

Borders
A woman walks past painted letter Z's, which has become a symbol of the Russian military, on bridge piers in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, April 15, 2022. 

No Z allowed: Some European countries move to ban the symbol used to promote Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ukraine
Kalman Aron began sketching when he was 3 years old. He's now 93, and says if he didn't still paint and draw every day he would "die of boredom."

For over 90 years, this Holocaust survivor’s art has kept him alive

Arts

At 93, Kalman Aron still paints everyday in his apartment in Beverly Hills. If he didn’t paint, he says he would “die of boredom.”

Where are you traveling in 2014? How about one of these?

Lifestyle & Belief

As I looked at the list of places to travel in 2014, I was inspired to make a visualization presenting some fun city choices.

Little Enthusiasm for Latvia’s Euro Effort

Business, Economics and Jobs

Latvia is on the path to adopt the euro starting in January 2014. Trouble is, most Latvians don’t share their government’s enthusiasm and they don’t want to give up their own money; the lat. Gederts Gelzis reports from Riga, Latvia.

The World

Latvian Mezzo Soprano ElÄ«na Garanča Returns to Met in ‘La Clemenza di Tito’

Global Hit

Monday’s Geo Quiz/Global Hit features mezzo soprano ElÄ«na Garanča who’s appearing on stage at the New York Metropolitan Opera in the role of Sesto in Mozart’s The Clemency of Titus. Later this month Garanča returns to her hometown Riga to sing with the Latvian National Opera.

The World

Latvia’s Love Canal

Reporter Bruce Gellerman visits what Latvian environmental activists call their republic’s worst toxic waste dump. At the site just outside the capital Riga, liquid waste from five chemical and pharmaceutical factories is stored in open pools, burned in a crude incinerator and injected into the ground. The waste is suspected of killing a nearby forest […]