The spread of HIV through heterosexual contact has increased substantially in Latvia in 2008, reported the Public Health Agency. In 2008, 163 individuals, mostly women aged between 15 and 24 years, contracted HIV, which is about a half of all new HIV-infected cases registered in 2008. Also, 22 people were infected with HIV through homosexual contact last year, 100 were infected as a result of intravenous drug use and eight children were born with HIV as their mothers were HIV-infected. The Public Health Agency experts say that the latest trends in the HIV spread suggests failure to use the barrier methods of contraception. Young girls whose partners are intravenous drug users are also put at a much higher risk. In 2008, 91 people in Latvia were diagnosed with AIDS, and 144 HIV-infected persons died, including 74 individuals who had AIDS.
Former President of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis could become a member of a new political party to be formed on March 29. There has been talk about Ulmanis' returning to active politics, as the former president said he has contributed to the formation of the new party with his ideas, experience and advice. One of the members of the new political group is Didzis Smits, chairman of the newly founded association "Tautas laiks" (People's Era), who is active in coordinating food producers' organizations. Others, well known in the food production industry, have given their advice on formation of the party. Among them, managers and co-owners of the largest milk-processing enterprise in Latvia "Rigas piena kombinats," Atis Sausnitis and Ivars Strautins, who both have previous connections with People's Party founder Andris Skele.
Civic Union party's candidate for mayor Girts Valdis Kristovskis has said that if former transport minister and current Riga mayor candidate Ainars Slesers would be elected mayor, each family in Riga might have to pay 10,000 lats in debt. He said that if the Southern Bridge cost each four-member family in Riga 3,200 lats, then by voting for Slesers, this debt could increase to 10,000. According to Kristovskis, Slesers has already unsuccessfully carried out his dealings at the Riga airport and Latvian Post, saying that he created shabby working conditions for airBaltic stewardesses while the airline's head received a larger salary than the U.S. president.
