Holbrooke 'stable but critical'



President Barack Obama has called Richard Holbrooke "a towering figure in American foreign policy" and said he is praying for the critically ill diplomat's recovery.

Mr Holbrooke, 69, the president's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was described as being in stable, but critical condition after undergoing more than 20 hours of surgery for a torn aorta, the large artery that takes blood from the heart.

The veteran diplomat was meeting with the secretary of state Hillary Clinton at the State Department on Friday when he suddenly collapsed and was taken to George Washington University Hospital a few blocks away. Mr Holbrooke was seen walking under his own power to the department's parking garage with a person from State's medical office.

His family as well as Ms Clinton and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been with Mr Holbrooke at the hospital. Ms Clinton visited on Friday night and again on Saturday.

"Richard Holbrooke is a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world," Mr Obama said in a statement.

He said he had spoken to Mr Holbrooke's wife, Kati, on Saturday "and told her that Michelle and I are praying for Richard".

"We continue to pray for his recovery, and support his family in this difficult time," said the president.

Hospital officials referred all questions about Mr Holbrooke's to the State Department.

A State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the surgery on Mr Holbrooke's torn aorta was completed on Saturday morning.

A torn aorta, or aortic dissection, is a condition in which a tear develops in the inner wall of the aorta allowing blood to enter the vessel wall and if not treated quickly can lead to rapid death. As blood enters the wall it reduces blood flow just as if there were a severely bleeding wound, leading to possibly serious complications in the brain and other areas of the body, according to medical experts.

Even if the surgery has stabilised Mr Holbrook's condition, recovery can be expected to take considerable time.

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
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  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Wonka
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Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:

Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')

Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate