PARIS: Ali Akbar has been homeless, experienced extreme poverty and had been attacked. On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron made Pakistan-born Akbar, believed to be the last newspaper hawker in Paris, a knight in the national order of merit in recognition of his service to France. The French president praised Akbar’s “incredible destiny,” thanking the septuagenarian for arriving from Pakistan decades ago, selling newspapers for 50 years and carrying France in his heart.

Ali Akbar, 73, honoured by Emmanuel Macron with National Order of Merit for dedication he pours into work

PARIS: Ali Akbar has been homeless, experienced extreme poverty and had been attacked. On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron made Pakistan-born Akbar, believed to be the last…

The French president presented Ali Akbar with one of the French government's highest honors on Wednesday evening. Akbar has sold Le Monde for decades in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés…