India’s Supreme Court has upheld a colonial law which outlaws gay sex.

The court overturned a ruling by the Delhi High Court in 2009, which decriminalised homosexual acts.

A 153-year-old colonial-era law classed homosexual acts as an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year prison sentence.

G Ananthapadmanabhan of Amnesty India criticised the decision in a statement.

Two French soldiers have died in clashes in the Central African Republic, the first French to die since last week’s deployment of 1,600 troops.

The soldiers were reported to be involved in a clash with armed militias near the capital Bangui’s airport.

"They were injured and very quickly taken to the surgical unit, but unfortunately they could not be saved," said Claude Bartolone, speaker of France's National Assembly.

 “Today we have to move beyond early warning to early action. We have to strengthen the capacity of our institutions to respond in a timely and effective way to potential conflicts and to the threat of grave and massive human rights violations. Even the best system of early warning will be less helpful unless States are able and willing to take action when the warning is received.”

“We can no longer afford to be blind to this grim dynamic, nor should we imagine that appeals to morality, without credible threat of action, will have much effect on people who have adopted a deliberate strategy of killing and forcible expulsion.”

“Anyone who embarks on genocide commits a crime against humanity. It is therefore important that humanity must respond by taking action in its own defence. It is our collective obligation to stand firm and provide a shield to the defenceless.”

“Genocide does not happen overnight. There are almost always many warning signs usually over a period of years. Very often these are violations of human rights against one particular group or entity within a population.”

“We must be vigilant, courageous and persistent. We live in a troubled world, but it is within the power of all of us to make a difference. We must not be passive bystanders. We must always stand up for human rights, the rule of law and a life of dignity for all.”

French troops have begun to disarm rebel militias in the Central African Republic.

1,600 French troops are currently in the country, after clashes between Christians and Muslims claimed hundreds of lives.

France said that fighters loyal to President Djotodia had to return to their barracks and all other militas had to disarm.

A power sharing deal between the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government of Philippines has been signed in Malaysia, raising hopes that the decades-long conflict in the region may reach a resolution.

The deal will see an autonomous southern region created with significant powers devolved to the area, with the annex stating there would be “delineation and sharing of power between the central government and the Bangsamoro (Filipino Muslim) government”.

Colombian rebel group Farc has announced a unilateral ceasefire for 30 days, commencing on December 15, a day after 9 people were killed in a car bomb attack on a police station.

The government has refused to cease attacks on the rebels without a conclusion to the peace talks which started last year. This is the second time that Farc has unilaterally declared a ceasefire.

"The inspection is under way and will be finished this afternoon, and they (the inspectors) will return to Tehran,"

"The inspectors will go back to Vienna tonight."