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JAPAN

World's oldest person turns 116

Misao Ohkawa, a Japanese woman believed to be the world's oldest person, turned 116 on Wednesday and celebrated by tucking into a white cake decorated with strawberries and candles.

Ohkawa, who was born in 1898, credits a healthy appetite and getting plenty of rest for her longevity.

Accepting a bouquet from well-wishers at a small party in the nursing home where she lives in the western city of Osaka, Ohkawa sat by the cake, decorated with "116" in candles, and later pronounced it "delicious."

Asked whether she was happy to have lived so long, she replied: "Kind of."

She is known for her strong appetite, and one of her favorite foods is sashimi, or raw fish. In the last six months she has gained 8.8 pounds, Japanese media said. - Reuters

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Effort to save sharks

Conservationists said Wednesday they have launched a shark-saving campaign in the Caribbean country of Trinidad & Tobago, trying to stop locals and tourists from eating a popular delicacy: deep-fried shark sandwiches. Many have long considered "bake & shark" sandwiches to be an essential part of a visit to Trinidad's Maracas beach. - AP

INDIA

Elections scheduled

India said Wednesday that it will hold national elections from April 7 to May 12, kicking off a vote that many observers see as the most important election in more than 30 years in the world's largest democracy. The run-up to the election has laid bare widespread disgust in India over corruption and disenchantment with the storied Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, which has dominated Indian politics since independence from Britain in 1947. - AP

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