By bno - Taipei Bureau Japan has formally launched an independent diplomatic mission to NATO, reflecting its growing collaboration with the alliance as tensions rise with Russia, China, and North Korea.

Japan's government has inaugurated a new mission and ambassador to NATO, making the country's representation to the alliance independent from the Japanese embassy in Belgium.

Japan launched its NATO mission in Brussels, according to a statement Thursday by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Japan on Thursday formally inaugurated an independent mission to the NATO military alliance as Tokyo and NATO seek to bolster cooperation amid escalating tension from Russia, China and North Korea.

Japan has formally inaugurated an independent mission to the NATO military alliance as Tokyo and NATO seek to bolster cooperation amid escalating tensions from Russia, China and North Korea, Euronews reports.

Scores from the European Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday5Ross Fisher (England)713Jorge Campillo (Spain)75Matthias Schwab (Austria)722Yuto Katsuragawa (Japan)703Darius Van Driel (Netherlands)7

NATO has deepened its links with Japan and three other Indo-Pacific partners, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, though not as part of the military alliance.

On Christmas Eve (le réveillon de Noël in French-speaking Belgium and Kerstavond in Flanders), families across the country come together to enjoy a festive feast with a number of courses. For starters, Belgians generally opt for soup, meat or fish.

Some things may go without saying, but just in case … Belgium’s food agency issued a public health warning on Jan. 7 as the festive season wrapped up: Don’t eat your Christmas tree.

One of the UK’s leading allergy relief brands has partnered with a global air quality and pollen data company to launch a world-first tool offering unique insights into pollen and pollution allergen r

Romania is set to have the sixth strongest passport in the world after being accepted into the US Visa Waiver program, which grants Romanians visa-free access to the United States, the Romanian Diplomatic Institute said on social media.

GENEVA (Switzerland) - World Economic Forum launches its annual Global Risks report (0900 GMT) BERLIN (Germany) - International Grune Woche (Green Week), food and agriculture trade fair (0900 GMT) PICTURE. (To 26)