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The world’s oldest woman celebrates her 117th birthday

Emma Morano, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday.

Ms Morano, born on November 29, 1899, was raised in the Italian city of Vercelli but moved to the northern town of Verbania soon after, where she has lived ever since.

According to the BBC, Morano, who celebrated her 117th birthday on Tuesday, credits her longevity to her genetics and diet; her mother lived to 91 and many of her sisters lived to see 100.

Morano’s daily diet included eating three eggs — two of which were raw, on the recommendation of a doctor after a case of anemia — every day since she was a teenager; now, she’s reduced it to only two eggs and few biscuits.

Ms Morano took in the festivities for her milestone celebration sitting in an armchair in her one-room apartment, joined by her two elderly nieces, a pair of caregivers and her long-time physician.

She happily accepted some gifts, including her favourite cookies, which she ate with some milk.

Then she blew out the candles on her cake — not one for every year, but three numerals to show her age, 117 — and quipped, “I hope I don’t have to cut it!”.