Latvia ranks 36th in a list of the world’s 100 “best” countries compiled by Newsweek magazine. The list considers a country’s health, education, economy and politics.

Although scoring in the upper half of the list, Latvia is behind its Baltic neighbors, Estonia (ranking 32nd overall) and Lithuania (34th).

According to an explanation of the list written by Rana Foroohar, a deputy editor for the U.S.-based magazine, “In Newsweek’s first-ever Best Countries special issue, we set out to answer a question that is at once simple and incredibly complex—if you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous, and upwardly mobile life?”

The magazine examined metrics in five categories: education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness and political environment. In each category, a country could receive up to 100 points. While Latvia fares relatively well in education, with a score of 89.56 to rank 25th on that measure alone, its poorest showing s in the area of economic dynamism, with a score of 43.86 to rank 53rd.

Topping the list is Finland, followed by Switzerland and Sweden. Australia ranks fourth overall, Canada is seventh and the United States comes in 11th. Germany is 12th, followed by the United Kingdom at 14th. Russia ranks 51st. At the bottom of the list is Burkina Faso.

The magazine’s report was published Aug. 15 on its website, www.newsweek.com.

British authorities have identified a woman from Latvia who was found stabbed to death on an East London street, as well as her mother, whose body was found in their burning home.

Meanwhile, a man who was reportedly the woman’s estranged husband was also found in the home and taken to a hospital, where his condition is listed as stable. He has been placed under arrest, according to the Metropolitan Police of London.

The woman has been identified as 40-year-old Svetlana Zolotovska, according to an Aug. 16 Metropolitan Police press release. She was found on Stansfield Road the morning of Aug. 12 with stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen. Zolotovska was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her mother, 70-year-old Antonia Belska, was found on the ground floor of their burning home on Leamouth Road after officers were led to the address upon making inquiries, according to the Metropolitan Police. Belska died from stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

A search of the home found a 42-year-old man, identified in British media reports as Zolotovska’s estranged husband Sergei Zolotovsky, in the loft area of the home. He had numerous injuries and had apparently attempted suicide.

Zolotovsky, a self-employed engineer originally from Latvia, has been reported to authorities at least four times over domestic disturbances, British media reported.

The couple was going through divorce proceedings, but were in a dispute over the house, according to British media reports.

The Zolotovskys had moved to the United Kingdom eight years ago, British media reported. Belska had arrived three months ago to stay with her daughter, police said.

Police are continuing their investigation and are asking for the public’s assistance.

“We know the younger victim left her address in east London at 07:20 hours to walk to work,” Detective Chief Inspector Phil Rickells said. “She was attacked at the bus stop in Stansfeld Road. We have traced several witnesses but would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at that time.”

A pair of Metropolitan Police officers have traveled to Latvia to pursue the investigation, according to London’s Evening Standard newspaper.

An animation film created by a director from Latvia has won a prize during the Hiroshima 2010 festival, organizers have announced.

Spārni un airi (Wings and Oars), which runs almost six minutes, is one of a half-dozen animation films presented with the Special International Jury Prizes. The film, released in 2009, is directed and produced by Vladimirs Ļeščovs.

Judges said Spārni un airi is a “nice and strong homage about the flying world in all its different aspects, done with aquarel drawings that look authentic.”

The film also won last year’s “Lielais Kristaps” award for the best animation film in Latvia.

Spārni un airi was not the only Baltic film to receive accolades in Hiroshima. Tuukrid vihmas (Divers in the Rain), an animation film by directors Priit Pärn and Olga Pärn of Estonia, won the Hiroshima Prize, organizers announced.

The Hiroshima 2010 animation festival ran from Aug. 7-11.