European Union

Two days after the SCO summit in Tianjin, China celebrated the 80th anniversary of the signing of Japan's surrender with a massive military parade on Wednesday. Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, the world is once again faced with the choice between war and peace, said China's President Xi Jinping. Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un were among those present. Europe's press takes stock.

While Trump is trying to reach a bilateral agreement with Putin, China is actively rallying allies from around the world. Categories such as East, West, the "Global South" and "democratic values" are becoming increasingly blurred. Europe's media ask: Should Europe join forces with others or strive to boost its own profile? And does it have what it takes to this?

Commissioned by Sweden's conservative government, history professor and author Lars Trädgårdh has put together and presented a proposal for a Swedish "cultural canon": a list of 100 major achievements in the areas of literature, theatre, cinema, music, religion, business and inventions. Sweden's press is divided over the significance and purpose of the list.

Swiss food company Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe with immediate effect just one year after he took office. Freixe was dismissed for having an undisclosed 'romantic relationship' with a female employee who reported directly to him, according to the company. The board of directors saw this as a clear violation of Nestlé's code of conduct and internal guidelines.

While most of Europe was already off holidaying, the European Food Safety Authority quietly released its long-awaited scientific opinion on the welfare of mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas kept for fur production.

In today's edition: Donald Trump saying he's "very disappointed" in Vladimir Putin as peace talks stall, Slovak PM Robert Fico set to pass on "several messages" to Kyiv after meeting Russia’s leader, and the Commission preparing to formally propose the EU-Mercosur deal