Eurotopics.net

The Czech football player Jakub Jankto, who has played 45 times for his country's national team, has come out as homosexual. This is the first time an active international men's football player has been open about being gay in a sport where the subject is still taboo. The 27-year-old has received encouragement but also countless insults, especially on social networks. The national press sees Jankto and his club Sparta Prague as role models.

24 February will mark the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine. There is no end in sight: Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian positions, civilians and infrastructure, while Western backers supply Kyiv with weapons. Over 7,000 civilians have died so far in the conflict, according to UN figures. Commentators take stock and discuss long-term perspectives.

US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has added a new angle to the ongoing investigation into the attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. According to his research, the US military blew up the pipelines and Norway knew about it. On his blog, Hersh cites a single anonymous source. The US government has denied the allegations. Europe's press discusses their plausibility.

Regional elections were held in Italy's two largest regions, Lombardy and Lazio, on Sunday and Monday. The votes were also considered a test of the public mood after the first 100 days of the new government under Giorgia Meloni. Her right-wing coalition won the elections with 54.4 percent in Lombardy and 52.1 percent in Lazio. The turnout was unusually low at 37.2 percent (Lazio) and 41.6 percent (Lombardy).