On Wednesday, the efforts of the man believed to be France’s last newspaper hawker were recognised, as Ali Akbar, a 73-year-old originally from Pakistan, received one of France’s most prestigious honours. But I have a great time with these people.”View image in fullscreen Emmanuel Macron celebrates Ali Akbar in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Photograph: Tom Nicholson/EPABorn in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Akbar said he stumbled across his calling after arriving in Paris in 1973. While once it had been easy to sell as many as 200 newspapers a day, those days were a distant memory, Akbar said. Every day there’s a new face.”On Wednesday, Macron ​praised the journey that had landed Akbar at the Élyséé Palace.