Leaders in Europe have been paying tribute to Pope Francis.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis’s death “deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd”.

She said: “I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.”

Ms Meloni added that “his teaching and legacy will not be lost”, continuing: “We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sorrow, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord.”

French President Emmanuel Macron shared his condolences in a post on X. He wrote: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.”

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, remembered Francis as an inspiration for the entire world, not just Christians.

She posted on X: “Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.

“My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’s legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world.”

Goldin Finance 117, standing tall in Tianjin, China, was once set to be a beacon of modernity and wealth. Rising to a staggering 597 meters, it was designed to be the fifth tallest skyscraper globally and the jewel of the ambitious Goldin Metropolitan development, according to the construction website B1M.

However, more than a decade after its construction began in 2008, this once-promising landmark now stands as a ghostly reminder of an unfinished dream. With its towering 128 floors, Goldin Finance 117 has become the world’s tallest abandoned skyscraper and one of the most prominent eyesores in a city known for its rapid urbanisation.

Proposed during a time when Chinese cities were racing to assert their global stature, Goldin Finance 117 was conceived as a key element of billionaire Pan Sutong’s Goldin Metropolitan project. The development was meant to be an extravagant 1.8 square kilometre district, built to cater to the ultra-wealthy. It would feature high-end residential towers, luxurious French and Italian-style manors, a wine museum, gardens, and even a polo club.

At the heart of this scheme, Goldin Finance 117 was destined to house office spaces, luxury hotels, retail spaces, and high-end restaurants. Its designers envisioned the building as the epitome of architectural innovation, complete with the world’s highest observation deck, restaurant, pool, and sky bar. The tower’s bold shape – often likened to a walking stick – would stand as a symbol of opulence, an audacious testament to the city’s rapid ascent.

Despite reaching its full height in 2015, the tower’s construction was abruptly halted, and the site was left abandoned. By 2018, communication about the future of the project had ceased, and there has been no official announcement regarding its completion or even its potential repurposing. As time passed, Goldin Finance 117 became a stark symbol of unrealised ambition in the heart of Tianjin, a towering monument to excess and failure.

What was once intended to be a world-class building now stands as an imposing, unfinished structure. While the cause of the project’s abandonment remains unclear, there are speculations surrounding financial difficulties, mismanagement, or perhaps a shift in the developer’s priorities. Regardless of the reason, Tianjin now hosts what many consider the world’s tallest “ghostscraper.”

The Goldin Finance 117 skyscraper was designed to resist lateral forces, particularly earthquakes, which are common in the region. The building’s unique structure, with its 9.5:1 height-to-width ratio, was engineered to meet China’s seismic code. Yet, despite this, the project faced financial hurdles that prevented it from reaching completion. It’s possible that the building’s cost – which was expected to run into the billions – coupled with economic pressures, may have contributed to its untimely halt.

While other factors, such as changes in market demand or complications with the development, might have played a role, the central question remains: how did one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with a booming construction industry, allow a colossal skyscraper to remain unfinished for years?

Goldin Finance 117 has become famous not just for its height but for its desolation, often attracting urban explorers and daredevils who climb its skeletal structure and document their ventures online. It’s a testament to the sometimes fragile nature of massive construction projects, where ambition can quickly be replaced by abandonment.

In a city that continues to push the boundaries of urban development, Goldin Finance 117 serves as a cautionary tale. Despite being a symbol of modern aspiration, it is now a relic of unrealised dreams and a stark reminder of the volatile nature of mega-projects in an ever-changing economic landscape.

Tourists should stay away from the Egyptian pyramids to send a message to abusers of animals, campaigners have warned. An investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), found incidences of donkeys being whipped, beaten and left to die on the side of the road as it uncovered the dark side to the great wonder of the world.

PETA Asia Vice President Jason Baker said: “PETA has documented the routine punching, kicking, whipping, and starving of horses and camels at the pyramids. Animals are literally ridden to death and then dumped like rubbish outside the gate. The Pyramids of Giza should symbolise Egypt’s beauty and history — not unchecked animal abuse. The Egyptian government must act to remove these suffering animals from Giza.

“In the meantime, tourists must vote with their wallets and avoid these animal attractions at all costs.’”

The group’s covertly filmed footage shows animals who look under-nourished and in poor health being routinely kicked and beaten.

Another video shows an animal struggling to move before being abandoned in a pile of rubbish.

On several occasions, the remains of animals discarded at the side of the road can be seen.

The footage which has since gone viral comes as a Dutch expat Joke Van der Post punch an animal’s handler before chasing him with a whip.

After seeing an animal being cruelly treated, the veterinary practice manager grabs a whip from another handler as the man tries to run away.

The man later filed a police report leading to Ms Van der Post’s arrest for what the accuser calls “psychological harm”.

Ms Van der Post, who is married to an Egyptian and lives in Cairo, says that the abuse of animals is commonplace in the country.

Discussing the incident she said: “When I shouted to stop, I was called a w**** and the man laughed and then hit harder.

“I could probably get six months or a year in prison, or maybe even deportation. But if that means that something will finally change here, it was worth it.”

Ms Van der Post now uses her social media to call for action to prevent the practice of cruelty from continuing.

In a recent Instagram post she said: “The everyday scene of the donkey being whipped has gone viral, the world is watching and we have been given a platform and an opportunity to reach positive changes for the future.

“If we can stand Strong together our voices now will be heard, we can achieve a positive change for all animals in Egypt!!!!”