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Ali Akbar 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.”Dear Ali, thank you for bringing political news to our terraces at the top of your lungs, for warming the hearts of the Flore, the Deux Magots, the Lipp brasserie,” Macron said in his speech at the Elysee Palace, referring to some of the French capital’s iconic cafes.”You are the accent of the 6th arrondissement. The voice of the French press,” Macron told Akbar, who was surrounded by his family.Akbar, who is known for inventing sensational headlines, sells his wares round the upmarket streets of Saint-German-des-Pres where he has become a neighbourhood legend.French has “become your language”, Macron told the slim, sharply dressed man. “You have learned to play with it, making it your own.””You have carried, if I may say so, the world in your arms and France in your heart,” Macron added. He praised Akbar as an example of integration which “makes our country stronger and prouder.””He is a magnificent example at a time when we so often hear bad news,” Macron said.”There are also many stories like Ali’s, of women and men who fled poverty to choose a country of freedom.”Akbar said he was “deeply moved” and already knew what he would shout on the streets of Paris in the coming days.”That’s it, I’m a knight! I’ve made it!” he said at the Elysee.Akbar arrived in France, hoping to escape poverty and send back money to his family in Pakistan. He worked as a sailor then a dishwasher in a restaurant in the northern city of Rouen.Then in Paris he bumped into French humourist Georges Bernier who gave him the chance to sell his satirical newspapers Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo.Akbar said last year he could not believe Macron wanted to give him France’s top honour. “We often crossed paths when he was a student,” he said at the time.Akbar, who receives a pension of 1,000 euros ($1,175) a month, still works each day. On average, he sells about 30 newspapers every day, compared to between 150 and 200 when he started.He says he has no plans to give up “entertaining people with my jokes” any time soon.”I’m going to continue selling newspapers,” he said.

A half-century by Tim Seifert and skipper Mitchell Santner’s three wickets steered New Zealand to a 50-run consolation win over India in the fourth T20 international on Wednesday.New Zealand posted 215-7 after being put in to bat thanks to a century stand between openers Seifert, who hit 62 off 36 balls, and Devon Conway, who struck 44, in Visakhapatnam.Santner led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 26 as New Zealand dismissed India for 165, pulling one back after the hosts had sealed the five‑match series in the third game.The two teams now head into the fifth match on Saturday, the final tune-up ahead of the T20 World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.”There’s no better prep than playing India in India for a World Cup,” said Santner. “So we’ve got a couple of guys back for the next game, which is nice. But again, it’s about getting our plans right, getting the roles sorted for what we’ve got coming up in the Cup.”New Zealand started strongly with Seifert taking on Arshdeep Singh in the opening over with three successive fours and keeping up the attack in the next over off Harshit Rana.Conway joined the charge as New Zealand raced to 100 in 8.1 overs and Seifert reached his fifty in 25 balls.Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav broke through as he removed Conway with Rinku Singh taking his first of four catches in the innings.Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra, caught and bowled for two, in the next over and soon Arshdeep cut short Seifert’s knock with his left-arm pace.Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips out for 24 off 16 balls and suddenly New Zealand seemed to lose their way before Daryl Mitchell stepped in.Mitchell struck an unbeaten 18-ball 39 and hit two fours and three sixes to boost the Kiwi total.In reply, India lost swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma on the first ball with Matt Henry drawing a top edge to third man. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell in the next over, caught and bowled for eight off Jacob Duffy.Santner’s left-arm spin then accounted for Sanju Samson (24) and Hardik Pandya as India slipped to 63-4.Shivam Dube hit back in his 23-ball 65, clubbing seven sixes and three fours as he reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries.But he was run out in an unlucky manner when a shot from Rana grazed Henry’s hand and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.Wickets kept tumbling and the Indian innings folded in 18.4 overs, but Suryakumar said they would learn from the defeat.”Hopefully if we get an opportunity again, we might chase again,” said Suryakumar. “But at the end of the day, good learning.”

Nepal’s Election Commission said Wednesday it is ready to hold elections as planned, despite concerns over weather conditions in high-altitude Himalayan regions when the vote takes place on March 5.The poll follows deadly anti-corruption protests in September that toppled the previous government, prompting an accelerated election schedule and an unusual early-year date for voting.”As of today, we are prepared to conduct the election in all locations,” the commission’s assistant spokesman, Prakash Nyaupane, told AFP, saying logistical, administrative and security arrangements were progressing as planned.The elections were called after an interim government was formed to guide the nation of 30 million people following the resignation of veteran leader KP Sharma Oli.Former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, is serving as interim prime minister until the vote.Nyaupane said the commission had consulted with political parties about the date, and “there is no alternative to this.””If we do not hold the elections on March 5, it will invite more trouble.”Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks including Mount Everest, faces particular challenges as many high-altitude areas may be snowbound that early in the year.Previous elections have typically been held in November, when the weather is milder.”We are moving ahead with preparations to hold the elections in all districts,” Nyaupane said, adding that helicopters will be used in five high-altitude districts for voting logistics.”It is a challenge for us if the climate is not favourable in Himalayan districts.”There are about 18.9 million eligible voters, including more than 800,000 first-time voters, who could cast ballots in 10,967 polling booths.The elections will determine the makeup of the 275-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 165 members chosen in a direct vote and 110 through party lists.A total of 3,406 candidates have registered their names for the direct seats, according to the commission.

A Sri Lankan court handed the British owner of a Premier League team a four-year suspended sentence on Wednesday over match-fixing in the domestic T20 cricket tournament, a judicial official told AFP.Bangladesh-born Tamim Rahman, owner of Dambulla Thunders, admitted to allegations that he had attempted to influence a player and organise betting.Following his guilty plea, Rahman was convicted and handed a four-year jail term which was suspended for five years, the court official said, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.The Colombo High Court also fined the owner 24 million rupees ($80,000).The conviction was in line with a strict 2019 act aimed at preventing corruption in sports in Sri Lanka.Rahman’s arrest in 2024, which came after the player involved had alerted the authorities, was the first such detention of a Premier League official since it was established six years ago.He was apprehended at the airport in Colombo before boarding a flight to Dubai, and spent a few weeks in detention before being granted bail.The court official said a warrant was out for the arrest of team manager Mujeeb Ur Rehman, a Pakistani national, who was also implicated in the case.

Presiding over the signing of a major trade deal alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen broke into a large smile.A diplomatic and economic coup, the EU-India pact comes as a welcome piece of good news for Brussels after a tumultuous few weeks dominated by US threats over Greenland.Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, von der Leyen described it as a tale of “two giants who choose partnership” and “the best answer to global challenges”.In spite of its eye-tickling pollution, the Indian capital must have felt like a breath of fresh air for von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa, who co-led the EU delegation.As they flew away from Brussels over the weekend, the pair left behind a just-defused crisis in transatlantic relations and internal squabbling over another trade deal with South American nations.In New Delhi, authorities rolled out the red carpet for the pair, who were feted as guests of honour at India’s Republic Day parade.Posters emblazoned with their faces adorned lampposts across the city.Costa, whose family hails from Goa, proudly flashed his Indian identity card at a press conference where Modi celebrated him as “the Gandhi of Lisbon”.Meanwhile local media praised von der Leyen’s burgundy and gold brocade outfit — a nod to Indian fashion.It was a far cry from the scorn and threats reserved for Europe by its traditional ally the United States at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week.European officials had been hoping to make progress on Ukraine at the Swiss ski resort — a goal drowned out by US President Donald Trump’s push to wrest control of Greenland from EU member Denmark.- ‘Difficult job’ -Trump made an about-turn after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte — a change of heart EU officials were keen to credit to Europe’s firm response — and the climbdown took the sting out of an emergency summit called on the Greenland issue.One year into Trump’s second term, Costa said the European Union has “learned how to manage” the ups and downs, and not to “react to each message”.”We need to keep calm and continue to have a polite, respectful relationship,” the council chief told AFP. “At the same time, we need to diversify our relationships”.But few in Europe believe the Greenland crisis was a one-off bump in the road, with the unpredictable US leader at the helm.Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade chief, told AFP he scours through newspaper headlines each morning in anticipation of “what else might happen”.”It’s indeed a difficult job,” he quipped.Yet he said the same was true for most other countries, which in turn found renewed appeal in what Europe has to offer: partnership, predictability and stability.India, for one, was left bruised by tariffs slapped on it by the White House over its purchase of Russian oil as New Delhi and Washington were negotiating a — so-far-elusive — trade deal.”The last year has turbocharged the European trade policy,” Sefcovic said.Pushing to reduce its dependencies on the United States and China and lower the cost of US tariffs, the EU was negotiating or looking to open talks with an array of nations including the Philippines, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, he said.- ‘New opportunities’ -By cutting or eliminating tariffs on almost 97 percent of European exports, the deal struck in New Delhi will help ease access to India’s 1.4-billion-people-strong market for cars, wine, pasta and other EU products.But the signing also allowed Brussels to turn the page after a just-sealed pact with South American bloc Mercosur was cast into limbo by a legal challenge in the European parliament.That setback added to rancorous divisions among member states over the deal’s impact on European farmers, who remained deaf to the EU’s arguments and staged months of tractor-mounted protests against the accord.European officials hope the new India deal will also help bring the South Asian giant diplomatically closer to Europe.Neutral on Ukraine, New Delhi has relied on Moscow for key military hardware for decades, but has tried to cut its dependence by diversifying imports and pushing its own domestic manufacturing base.Modi said a security partnership struck alongside the trade deal would provide “new opportunities” for defence companies.While denying a pivot away from Russia, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said India was interested in hosting the joint production of European military kit.Monday’s Republic Day parade featured Russian helicopters and planes, alongside dancers and motorcycle daredevils.But, in perhaps a hint of things to come, it ended with a squad of French-made Rafale fighter jets zooming overhead.

India and the European Union announced Tuesday the “mother of all deals”, a huge trade pact to create a market of two billion people, reached after two decades of negotiations.EU chiefs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hope the pact will help shield against challenges from the world’s two leading economies, the United States and China.The agreement will cut or eliminate tariffs on almost 97 percent of European exports, saving up to 4 billion euros ($4.75 billion) annually in duties, the 27-nation bloc said.”A mother of all deals,” Modi said Tuesday in the capital New Delhi, where he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.”This deal will bring many opportunities for India’s 1.4 billion and many millions of people of the EU,” Modi said, adding the agreement “represents about 25 percent of global GDP, and one-third of global trade”.The EU has eyed India — the world’s most populous nation — as an important market for the future.”Europe and India are making history today,” von der Leyen said in a statement, a day after she and Costa were feted as guests of honour at India’s Republic Day parade.”We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit.”- ‘Increasingly insecure world’ -EU officials said the deal was the most ambitious India had ever agreed, and European companies would benefit from so-called “first mover advantage”.Europe’s key agricultural, automotive and service sectors stand to gain.But sensitive agricultural sectors, such as beef, rice and sugar whose inclusion in an earlier deal struck with South American bloc Mercosur sparked farmers’ anger in Europe, were left out of the agreement.New Delhi sees the European bloc as an important source of much-needed technology and investment to rapidly upscale its infrastructure and create millions of new jobs.It also includes a security partnership, providing “new opportunities” for defence companies, Modi said.”We are not only making our economies stronger — we are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world,” von der Leyen said, speaking alongside Modi after exchanging agreements.”By combining these strengths, we reduce strategic dependencies, at a time when trade is increasingly weaponised,” she added.Bilateral trade in goods reached 120 billion euros ($139 billion) in 2024, an increase of nearly 90 percent over the past decade, according to EU figures, with a further 60 billion euros ($69 billion) in trade in services.Under the agreement, India is expected to ease market access, and European firms will get privileged access to the Indian financial services and maritime transport market, the bloc said.- ‘Highest level of access’ -Tariffs on cars will be gradually lowered from a top rate of 110 percent to as low as 10 percent — with a quota of 250,000 vehicles — while duties on wines progressively go down from 150 percent to as low as 20 percent.Currently at 50 percent, tariffs on processed foods — including pasta and chocolate — will be eliminated, according to the EU.Von der Leyen said she expected exports to India to double, and that the EU would “gain the highest level of access ever granted to a trade partner in the traditionally protected Indian market”.For India, it would boost sectors including textiles, gems and jewellery, and leather goods, as well as the service sector, Modi said.The accord comes as both Brussels and New Delhi seek to open up markets in the face of US tariffs and Chinese export controls.”The unprecedented preferential access secured for over 99 percent of Indian exports is a game-changer for Indian industry,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, Confederation of Indian Industry.India is on track to become the fourth-largest economy this year, according to International Monetary Fund projections.New Delhi, which has relied on Moscow for key military hardware for decades, has tried to cut its dependence on Russia in recent years by diversifying imports and pushing its own domestic manufacturing base.Europe is doing the same with regard to the United States.

The European Union and India announced Tuesday that they had struck a “historic” trade deal that Brussels hopes will see exports double to the Asian powerhouse.They had spent two decades negotiating but the return of US President Donald Trump and his hefty tariffs accelerated the push on both sides to seal a deal.Here is what Brussels and New Delhi agreed in what India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the “mother of all deals”:- What benefits for the EU? -Indian tariffs on more than 90 percent of EU goods will be removed or cut.For example, India will progressively reduce levies to between 20 and 30 percent on European wines, down from 150 percent before the agreement.Beer tariffs will drop to 50 percent from 110 percent, while spirits will see future levies of 40 percent, down from up to 150 percent.India will also remove tariffs on EU olive oil — a major export from Spain, Italy and Greece — fruit juice, non-alcoholic beer and processed food including bread, pasta, chocolate and pet food. In a welcome move for one of the bloc’s biggest sectors and especially Germany, tariffs on cars will be gradually lowered from a top rate of 110 percent to as low as 10 percent — with a quota of 250,000 vehicles.And India will eliminate tariffs on aircraft — a potential boon for pan-European aerospace group Airbus — as well as cutting levies to zero on most machinery, medical equipment, chemicals and pharmaceutical products.- How does India benefit? -According to Brussels, the EU’s imports from India comprise mainly machinery and appliances, chemicals, base metals, mineral products and textiles.India said the EU would immediately eliminate duties on products making up the majority of its exports including textiles, leather and footwear, tea, coffee, spices, sports goods, toys, gems and jewellery, and certain marine products.And the EU agreed to phase out tariffs for processed food items as well as arms and ammunition, among other goods.Steel was a thorny issue in negotiations since India is a major exporter. Brussels says the steel makes up seven percent of total Indian exports to the EU.Under the deal, India will benefit from a duty-free quota of 1.6 million tonnes, and New Delhi will relinquish its retaliation rights under the World Trade Organization, a senior EU official said.Another sticking point for India was the EU’s carbon border tax, which aims to ensure foreign producers pay a carbon cost similar to what European companies already pay under the bloc’s internal emissions trading system.Under the deal, the EU agreed to launch a technical dialogue on the tax if needed, and vowed not to treat any other EU partner better than India.The EU has also promised to make it easier for skilled Indian workers to work in the 27-country bloc, agreeing to a memorandum of understanding on mobility covering issues related to seasonal workers, researchers and students, the EU official said.- What doesn’t the deal include? -Sensitive agricultural products are excluded from the new deal.The senior EU official said there were no concessions for sugar, ethanol, rice, soft wheat, beef, chicken meat, milk powders, bananas, honey or garlic.He also said that unlike deals the EU has struck with other partners, there were no chapters on government procurement, on energy and raw materials, or on the liberalisation of investment in manufacturing sectors.India also opposed any chapter on “sustainable development where we focus on social rights and also environmental issues”, the official added.The two partners are discussing a separate agreement on Geographical Indications, the intellectual property rights that link a product’s qualities, reputation or features to its place of origin.This “will help traditional EU farming products sell more in India, by removing unfair competition in the form of imitations”, the EU executive said.India said the deal safeguarded sensitive sectors including dairy, cereals, poultry, soybean meal and certain fruits and vegetables.

Nepal has arrested six people after an investigation into fraudulent helicopter rescues of travellers in the Himalayan nation in a $19.69 million insurance scam, police said Monday.Thousands of trekkers visit Nepal every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas and routes lined with picturesque villages — and emergency helicopter rescues are a critical part of the tourism industry.Police said they uncovered evidence of multiple insurance claims filed for a single rescue operation, or chartered flights falsely presented as emergency evacuations, and fabricated medical bills issued with the involvement of private hospitals.The arrests follow a two and a half month investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau that revealed a trail of forged and manipulated documents.Three companies had claimed insurance payouts of approximately $19.69 million, according to a police statement.”This has been a long-standing issue and we have been investigating. Six have been arrested and our investigations will continue,” Shiva Kumar Shrestha, the bureau’s spokesman, told AFP.A 2018 government probe identified 15 companies — including helicopter firms, trekking agencies and hospitals — linked to the lucrative racket. But no action was taken against any of the alleged perpetrators.Scams continued — despite Nepal introducing guidelines to control fake rescues following a warning from insurers.

Nepali sexual and gender minorities unveiled their candidates in a new political party on Monday ahead of March elections, challenging an ageing political elite ousted in last year’s mass uprising.The September 8-9 anti-corruption uprising was triggered by anger over a brief government ban on social media, and at least 77 people were killed.The uprising built on public frustration after years of economic stagnation and allegations of entrenched political corruption.The Inclusive Socialist Party, with a membership of more than 500 people, mostly from sexual and gender minorities, will field six candidates.”I have been requesting previous parliamentarians to raise our issues,” Numa Limbu, a third-gender candidate who leads the party, told AFP.”But, if we have a seat at the table, then others don’t have to speak for us.” Limbu said that the party understands wider issues of marginalised communities, and will tackle the needs not only of the LGBTIQ community but also those of youth and women.”We believe that friends from our party and community will reach the parliament,” Limbu said. Elections will be held for the 275-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 165 chosen in a direct vote and 110 through party lists.Some other political parties have listed LGBTIQ candidates in their proportional representation lists but have not fielded direct candidates.Nepal has some of South Asia’s most progressive laws on LGBTIQ rights.In 2023, an interim order from the Supreme Court allowed same-sex and transgender couples to register their marriages.However, no one from the community has held public office since 2008, when Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay man, became a lawmaker, nominated under the proportional representation system.Former parliamentarian Pant, who has been at the forefront of pushing for changes, is an adviser to the Inclusive Socialist Party.”Absence of representation from the community has meant that rights ensured to us by the constitution have not translated to laws. We also have to go to address that,” he said.More than 900,000 people in Nepal identify as a sexual minority, according to the leading rights group the Blue Diamond Society.Despite legal strides, many LGBTIQ people still face discrimination in employment, healthcare and education.

In the heart of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, the charred remains of a police station attacked during September’s unrest stand in stark contrast to a brand-new, fully equipped police van parked outside.Purchased through community crowdfunding, the vehicle has become a symbol of how local residents stepped in to help Nepal’s police rebuild after one of the most violent episodes of unrest in recent years. “Whenever anything happens, we call the police for rescue,” said Ganapati Lal Shrestha, who led the fundraising effort.”But where do we go when the police themselves are at risk?”Youth-led demonstrations erupted on September 8, 2025, triggered by anger at a brief ban on social media, but fuelled by deeper frustration at economic hardship and corruption.When security forces tried to crush the protests, at least 20 young demonstrators were killed, mainly in Kathmandu.Anger intensified the following day. Riots spread nationwide, with more than 50 people killed and over 2,500 structures torched, looted, or damaged, including parliament, courts and government buildings.The police were a key focus of the anger. “Police became a target, because we represent the state on the ground,” said Gopal Chandra Bhattarai, a police spokesman. “Whatever happens, it is the police who respond.”Three policemen were killed by mobs, while others ran for their lives as crowds hurled stones.At least 465 police buildings were attacked — and more than a hundred destroyed — with gangs looting weapons and uniforms.In the chaos, more than 13,500 prisoners escaped jail. The force suffered “a major loss”, Bhattarai said.- ‘Open heart’ -Kathmandu’s Janasewa police station was among those attacked. As flames ripped through its two buildings, its six vehicles, as well as several motorcycles, were pushed into the street, then set on fire. Station chief Krishna Kumar Chand said terrified officers were unable to intervene.”If we used any force, there might have been casualties,” he said, saying they bore the “physical loss instead.”Calm returned a day later, after 73-year-old KP Sharma Oli stepped down as prime minister. And the community came out to help.At several damaged stations, nearby residents brought with them cleaning supplies, paint, furniture and construction materials.”Immediately after the protests, people came forward to rebuild burned or damaged units with whatever they had,” said Kathmandu district police chief Ramesh Thapa.”The common people have supported us with an open heart,” he added.At Janasewa, residents assessed the loss — including the destruction of a van used as a quick-response vehicle for disaster response.”We felt we had to help rehabilitate the police,” said Shrestha, the fundraising organiser. “Unless the community helps rebuild their motivation, our society will not be secure.”Local residents called for contributions, and money slowly started trickling in.Eventually, they raised nearly 10 million Nepali rupees ($69,000) to purchase and equip a new Toyota HiAce van.- ‘Peace and security’ -It is not the only case. At Kathmandu’s Maharajgunj Police Station, where two officers were killed, repairs were made with the “full support from the community”, spokesman Niranjan Thapa said.Nepal, now led by an interim government headed by former chief justice Sushila Karki, is gearing up for general elections on March 5.The police say that all their units are operational, despite receiving no reconstruction budget from the government.The police force has also been recruiting thousands for temporary police jobs over the election period. “Despite some resource and mobility limitation, our operations have returned to normal,” said Bhattarai. “We are prepared for maintaining peace and security for the elections.” For officers like Chand, the community support has helped heal the trauma of the unrest and reinforced their sense of duty. “We cannot step away from our responsibilities just because our resources are damaged,” Chand said.”We have to perform basic policing. That is why we are in this society.”