World's Oldest Man Passes Away

The world’s oldest man, Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia. Photo: The Guinness World Records
The world’s oldest man, Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia. Photo: The Guinness World Records
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World's Oldest Man Passes Away

The world’s oldest man, Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia. Photo: The Guinness World Records
The world’s oldest man, Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia. Photo: The Guinness World Records

The world’s oldest man, Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia, has died at the age of 112 years and 341 days, the Guinness World Records said Wednesday.

He had been declared the oldest living man in the world when he turned 112 years and 211 days old, the London-based organization said, and had been due to celebrate his 113th birthday next month.

Owing to his diminutive stature, the 1.5 meter tall Spaniard, who was born in Ponte Castro, Leon, on February 11 1909, avoided being drafted to fight in the 1936 Spanish Civil War and instead ran a successful shoe business.

He had seven children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

According to the Guinness website, the oldest person ever recorded was France’s Jeanne Louise Calment who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days, having been born in February 1875.



Low Water Levels Hamper Shipping in Germany's Rhine River as Heat Wave Continues

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows a barge on the Rhine river in front of the Muenster cathedral ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows a barge on the Rhine river in front of the Muenster cathedral ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
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Low Water Levels Hamper Shipping in Germany's Rhine River as Heat Wave Continues

FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows a barge on the Rhine river in front of the Muenster cathedral ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows a barge on the Rhine river in front of the Muenster cathedral ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

A heat wave in western Europe has lowered water levels on Germany's Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners due to additional surcharges as their vessels were unable to sail fully loaded, commodity traders said on Monday.

Low water has limited shipping on all of the river south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the chokepoint of Kaub, traders said.

At Kaub, cargo vessels could only sail about 50% full, at Duisburg and Cologne between 40-50% full, Reuters reported.

Shallow water leads vessel operators to impose surcharges on freight rates to compensate for the vessels being unable to sail fully loaded, which raises the need for additional vessels to move consignments and increases costs for cargo owners.

Still, cargo is being delivered, with loads being carried by several vessels instead of one, traders said.

The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals, ores, coal and oil products, including heating oil.

An intense heat wave is again forecast in parts of Germany this week, including in the Rhine area, with temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahreinheit) possible in Cologne.

Traders said no improvement was in immediate sight and water levels could fall further.

German companies also faced supply bottlenecks and production problems in the summer of 2022 after a drought and heat wave led to unusually low water levels on the Rhine.