World News from the BBC

Suicides among American troops on active service have surged this year, far outstripping the number killed in Afghanistan. Figures released by the Pentagon show suicides averaging one a day in the first five months of this year, 50% more than deaths in action. The reasons for the increase are not fully tood">understood. There's also been a rise in sexual assaults,

domestic violence

and alcohol abuse.

A court in New York has sentenced the torious">notorious Jamaican drug lord topher">Christopher "Dudus" Coke to">to 23 years in prison. Coke had

pleaded guilty

to

racketeering

and conspiracy to commit assault. He was extradited from Jamaica nearly two years ago after a bloody

standoff

between government forces and gunmen loyal to him in a poor neighbourhood of Kingston. Nearly 70 people died during four days of fighting.

Britain has signed a deal with Mauritius allowing suspected pirates caught by its Royal Navy to be transferred to the Indian Ocean Island to face prosecution. Peter Biles reports.

Mauritius is the latest country to agree to take suspected pirates for prosecution. There's no international legal system for people accused of piracy, but Britain has been working with countries in and around the Indian Ocean to deal with the threat. The British government says today's agreement with Mauritius is a significant step forward. It comes after two international conferences on Somalia this year. And according to Prime Minister David Cameron, it's another sign that countries in the Indian Ocean region are stepping up their efforts against piracy.