The News Review:

- Sierra Leone navy battles pirates
- Sierra Leone: ‘Obama’ Warns Against Radio Closure
- Sierra Leone: SLAJ Presidential Election Tomorrow – Umaru Fofana …
- Sierra Leone/Nigeria: Shooting Stars Official Arrested in Nigeria
- Sierra Leone: PCMH to Get Free Emergency Treatment
- Sierra Leone: HIV/AIDS Door-to-Door Testing Catches the Youth

Sierra Leone navy battles pirates
BBC News UK 
A group of pirates from neighbouring Guinea opened fire on a Chinese fishing vessel the Shanghai Three police spokesman Ibrahim Samura told the BBC. He said following the intervention of the navy two pirates were shot dead and two men believed to be Guinean soldiers drowned. A BBC reporter says pirate attacks are rare in West Africa outside Nigeria. At least four alleged pirates from Guinea and Sierra Leone were arrested.

Sierra Leone: ‘Obama’ Warns Against Radio Closure
AllAfrica.com Washington 
On hearing that Radio Tombo had been shut down on the orders of the town chief Ibrahim Sesay and the councilor Billie Kanu Mr. Fofana dashed to Tombo outside Waterloo where he learnt that the station manager Sallu Mongeh was also severely beaten up on Sunday night by attackers who reportedly used rocks and other missiles. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”);Mr. Fofana according to the release told the chief that there were proper laid down procedures to seek redress if a community felt aggrieved about their radio station or any other radio station at that.

Sierra Leone: SLAJ Presidential Election Tomorrow – Umaru Fofana …
AllAfrica.com Washington 
Gibson said; “I hope the new executive would work as a team. We do not want a SLAJ with cleavages. “President of Sierra Leone reporters union (SLRU) Amara Samoura told me yesterday that he would want the new executive to ensure that the conditions of service of journalists are improved. “Reporters need training urgently if we want an improved journalism in the country. I hope the new executive will restore our dignity. Conteh has suggested that SLAJ needs a credible leadership.

Sierra Leone/Nigeria: Shooting Stars Official Arrested in Nigeria
AllAfrica.com Washington 
Meanwhile the likes of The Gambia and Benin have already arrived in Nigeria for the competition that is scheduled to kick-start in Delta State between November 28 and December 9. According to the chairman of protocol Austin Akosa the delegations from Senegal Niger Mauritania and Guinea Bissau are expected in Nigeria today while Ghana Liberia Togo Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast had arrived yesterday. Also on the arrival list are match officials from Niger Senegal Benin Togo Ghana Burkina Faso Sierra Leone Liberia Mali and The Gambia. Assistant referees Badou Jasseh and Dickory Jawo’s arrivals were expected yesterday while referee Bakary Papa Gassama is set to join the others from Ghana on November 30. Relevant LinksWest AfricaNigeriaSierra LeoneSoccerSportGassama’s delay was as a result of the fact that he has been scheduled by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to officiate in the CHAN 2009 qualifier between Ghana and Nigeria this weekend in Accra.
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Sierra Leone: PCMH to Get Free Emergency Treatment
AllAfrica.com Washington 
GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”);Kabia made the announcement as part of a policy change at PCMH the largest maternity hospital in the country. He did not say the exact date the new policies would take effect. Maternal mortality is very high in Sierra Leone. One in eight women dies during childbirth. He said 144 patients have died at the hospital so far this year and that the ministry wants to improve on that. “We have changed from the old system to a new system” Kabia said. “We need to do more to improve the health sector and this is the time we are going to start it.

Sierra Leone: HIV/AIDS Door-to-Door Testing Catches the Youth
AllAfrica.com Washington 
Young boys and girls are going round their communities calling others to go for the test. Director of NAS Dr Brima Kargbo said his secretariat was promoting a national HIV testing campaign as part of a global initiative aims at testing 1000000 against this year’s World AIDS day. “In Sierra Leone we expect to test 20000 people. The epidemic is on the verge of stabilizing” he said adding that the treatment is ongoing and that they have done research to find out whether the people are surviving. Dr Kargbo confirmed that 84. 5% are still alive after 1 year of treatment adding that the government was doing tremendous work to see that those infected are given proper treatment. Relevant LinksWest AfricaHIV-Aids and STDsChildren and YouthHealth and MedicineSierra LeoneHe called on every Sierra Leonean to get involved in the fight against the HIV menace.