Eurotopics.net

Brazilians will vote on Sunday on whether they want Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to serve another term - his fourth - as president. Lula's main challenger is the right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro. If none of the 13 candidates secures a sufficient majority in the first round, a second round of voting will take place on 25 October.

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv apparently attempted to stab the pilot and take control of the aircraft with 174 passengers on board on Wednesday. The captain and passengers were able to regain control of the situation and land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. Commentators examine the ramifications of the incident for Israel.

An investigation is under way in Finland into a series of suspected break-ins at the homes of several members of parliament. Signs of breaking and entering were left without anything being stolen. The perpetrators and their motive remain unknown, but all eyes are on Russia, although there is no concrete evidence of Russian involvement at this stage. The press discusses how to protect politicians and democracy against intimidation.

In the US state of Tennessee, the execution of a woman who had been on death row since 1996 failed on Wednesday. Christa Pike (50), was taken to hospital after surviving two lethal injections. Although views on the death penalty differ the media are united in their opposition to such executions.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced far-reaching reforms in areas such as social care, pensions, energy and housing at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. He also announced plans to seek closer cooperation between the UK and the EU. The UK had been on the wrong track for too long and its course must be corrected, he explained. Commentators see this as a turning point but their interpretations vary.