Artist behind controversial piece in Linz cathedral says vandalism shows there are still ‘people who question women’s right to their own bodies’ Vandals have beheaded a sculpture of the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus on display in the cathedral in the Austrian city of Linz. The work had drawn criticism from some Catholics, who said it was blasphemous. The sculpture had been on view at the St Mary Cathedral, Austria’s largest, as part of an art installation about women’s roles, family images and gender equality, the Linz diocese said in a statement. It said the vandalism, which occurred on M ..read more

Council of 50 random citizens decide how to use money given up by wealth-tax campaigner Marlene Engelhorn An inherited fortune given away by an Austrian heiress who shunned her millions will go to dozens of non-profit organisations that work on issues including the environment, health and homelessness, a citizen group tasked to manage the fund has announced. Marlene Engelhorn, a 32-year-old activist who has campaigned for a tax on extreme wealth, announced in January that she would give away the vast bulk – €25m(£21.1m) – of the money she inherited from her grandmother ..read more

There are numerous terms to describe the wide array of far right parties, but what do all they mean – and do we always use the right ones? They are known, variously, as far right, national-conservative, radical right, anti-Islam, nativist, and Eurosceptic. Also as extreme right, populist, “alt-right”, neofascist, anti-immigration, nationalist, authoritarian, and assorted combinations of the above. As the dust settles on the results of this month’s European parliamentary elections, it is worth examining what some of the terms routinely used to describe Europe’s wide array of far-right parties m ..read more

The French president’s decision to call a snap parliamentary election, after Marine Le Pen’s triumph in European polls, is a fateful moment Ahead of Sunday’s European election results, attention was understandably focused on the impact of a potential far-right surge on the balance of power in Brussels institutions. In the event, the pan-European centre held, just about, with more moderate conservative parties generally enjoying a good night. But that was not even close to being the main headline of the evening. Emmanuel Macron’s shock decision to call snap legislative elections, afte ..read more

A surge in support for far-right parties in France, Germany and Austria was tempered by strong support for centrist and leftwing groups in other countries European Union lawmaking is set to get more complicated after parliamentary elections offered up a mixed picture across the continent. As predicted, parties on the populist right made huge gains in many countries, but in others, support for the centre-right establishment held, while leftwing parties made surprising gains in others ..read more

Live tattooing, non-simulated sex, flesh hook body hoisting and an ejaculating helicopter – these are commonplace in the astonishing shows of Europe’s hottest director. But is her latest just too shocking? Loud cries of extreme discomfort are echoing around a former warehouse on the outskirts of the German city of Schwerin as six women, all clad in black, edge towards the limits of their pain. “Oh,” one woman wails as she squirms on her plastic chair, “this one is so hard.” Austrian choreographer Florentina Holzinger is famous for working with performers who can endure more pain than most: the ..read more

Far right celebrates in France, Germany and Austria, but mainstream centre parties on course to hold majority Macron to dissolve French parliament after crushing loss to far right Results tracker – live It wasn’t just in France that the far right was celebrating on Sunday night. In Germany and Austria, parties on the populist right made stunning gains in the European elections – but despite that, the pro-European centre appeared to have held in a set of results likely to complicate EU lawmaking. In France, Emmanuel Macron called snap legislative elections after a crushing defeat of his allie ..read more

As National Rally achieves best ever result in France, populists also make gains in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands Latest results – live France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has been accused of gambling with French democracy after announcing that he will dissolve parliament and call snap legislative elections in the wake of his allies’ crushing defeat to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in Sunday’s European parliament elections. On a night that saw far-right parties make significant but far from conclusive gains in Europe, the RN won about 32% of French votes, more than do ..read more

Allegations that Lena Schilling spread damaging rumours are causing a stir, but some believe criticism of her to be sexist and voyeuristic European elections live – latest updates “This European parliament is probably going to be the most rightwing ever – and it will want to rip up the Green Deal,” said Lena Schilling, a 23-year-old climate activist turned Green politician, as she canvassed voters in a bougie market in central Vienna. But even in this Green stronghold, shoppers seemed less interested in threats to democracy and climate policy than the candidate herself. A media storm has for ..read more

Frontrunner to be European Commission president was questioned over alliances with Meloni and others in face-off with rival candidates Sandro Gozi, representing Renew Europe Now, has walked on stage. Walter Baier, representing the Party of the European Left, has entered the stage ..read more