Paris's last newspaper hawker receives knighthood
The last remaining newspaper hawker in Paris has been honored with a knighthood. The recognition celebrates a disappearing profession that is considered a historic part of Parisian street culture.
- The newspaper hawker, Ali Akbar, is a 73-year-old immigrant from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, who arrived in France in 1973. - For over 50 years, he has sold newspapers, primarily Le Monde, from his bicycle in the 6th arrondissement, becoming a recognizable figure to locals and tourists. - The honor bestowed upon him by French President Emmanuel Macron is the National Order of Merit, one of the country's highest civilian honors. - Over his career, Akbar has sold newspapers to notable figures such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Elton John. - At the height of his career, Akbar would sell around 300 newspapers a day, a number that has now dwindled to about 40 due to the decline of print media. - When he began in the 1970s, there were approximately 40 newspaper hawkers in Paris; today, he is believed to be the last one. - In his speech, President Macron referred to Akbar as "the accent of the 6th arrondissement" and "the voice of the French press." - The tradition of Parisian newspaper kiosks, distinct from mobile hawkers, dates back to 1857 under Baron Haussmann's redesign of the city.
