A volcano erupted in southern Japan on Thursday, spewing steam and ash hundreds of metres into the air, as authorities warned locals not to approach the mountain.

Around 500 Syrian refugees left southern Lebanon on Wednesday under an agreement between authorities in Beirut and Damascus that provides for their return to their home country, AFP's correspondent said.

At least 21 revellers were killed en route to a wedding when their truck flew off a bridge, police said Wednesday, the latest horrific crash on India's accident-prone roads.

The Philippines is set to deploy hundreds of riot police to top holiday island Boracay to keep travellers out and head off potential protests ahead of its six-month closure to tourists, the government said Tuesday.

Bungling, distortion and diplomatic doublespeak have hollowed out the deal to repatriate Rohingya from Bangladesh to Myanmar, with refugees refusing to return to a homeland that remains perilously insecure.

Iraq has executed 13 people including 11 convicted on charges relating to "terrorism", the justice ministry said Monday.