Secretary Kerry’s First Week

About the Author: Richard Buangan serves as Director of Digital Engagement at the U.S. Department of State.

Today’s “Photo of the Week” is not just one, but several photos we selected highlighting Secretary Kerry’s first week at the State Department. Since the warm welcome he received from hundreds of colleagues when he walked through the doors of the State Department for the first time as Secretary of State, Mr. Kerry wasted no time getting to work, meeting his new colleagues, and getting acquainted with the Harry S Truman building. Pictures tell the story better than words as Secretary Kerry assumed his responsibilities as America’s top diplomat. more »

About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote’s Associate Editor.

Our “Photo of the Week” comes to us from Matty Stern, the photographer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, and shows U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro lighting the menorah on the fifth night of Hanukkah in Dizengoff Square on December 12, 2012. 

In Washington, President Obama and the First Lady celebrated Hanukkah with a reception at the White House on the sixth night of Hanukkah on December 13. This year, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, began on Saturday, December 8 and concludes on Sunday, December 16.

In a statement, the President said, “Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah around the world. 

“This Hanukkah season we remember the powerful story of the Maccabees who rose up to liberate… more »

About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote’s Associate Editor.

This week’s “Photo of the Week” comes to us from Travis Longmore of the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and shows Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Robert Carr paying their respects at a wreath-laying ceremony at the State War Memorial at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, Australia, November 14, 2012.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta joined Secretary Clinton for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) with Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith and Australian Foreign Minister Robert Carr. The American and Australian principals discussed security cooperation and other regional and global issues. After the consultations, AUSMIN concluded with a press conference and the release of themore »

About the Author: Amanda Brooks serves in the Office of Art in Embassies.

It is hard to imagine that anyone could be more excited than me to help announce the Best in Show winners of the Office of Art in Embassies and the Department of Defense joint “Serving Abroad…Through Their Eyes” photography project. A year ago this week, we sent a call out to all military, foreign, and civil service personnel, asking for their images of their time abroad. By February 20, 2012, we were overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of images we received.

Narrowing down over 3,200 images to twelve is a harrowing task under the best of circumstances. As Art in Embassies Imaging Manager, I have lived with all the images for a year; read each caption at least once, sometimes laughing at the circumstances that created the… more »

About the Author: Hannah Johnson serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

Our “Photo of the Week” shows Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Colombian Vice Foreign Minister Patti Londono signing a memorandum of understanding on the Small Business Network of the Americas in Cali, Colombia, October 23, 2012.

Deputy Secretary Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere AffairsRoberta Jacobson traveled to Cali for the fifth Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas ministerial. The government of Colombia hosted the event, attended by high-level government officials, policy makers, business leaders, academics, and representatives from international organizations throughout the… more »

About the Author: Hannah Johnson serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

This week’s “Photo of the Week” comes to us from the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic and shows Ambassador Norman L. Eisen and a group from the embassy marching in the second annual Pride Parade in Prague on Saturday, August 18, 2012. The parade participants walked from Wenceslas Square to Strelecky Island accompanied by floats with music and dancers.

The United States is working throughout the world to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of all races, religions, and nationalities as part of our comprehensive human rights policy… more »

About the Author: Eboni Bell serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

This week’s “Photo of the Week” comes to us from the U.S. Embassy in Malawi, where Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton participated in a Feed the Future event at the Lumbadzi Milk Bulking center on August 5, 2012. In this photograph, dairy farmer Margaret Chinkwende describes her work to the Secretary of State.

At the event, Secretary Clinton remarked, “For the past decade, the United States has been supporting Malawi’s dairy sector, including this center. And thanks to your work and the support we have given you, Malawi’s milk production has increased 500 percent. Thousands of farmers have benefited. I was delighted to meet some of the farmers and the workers here. And I want to thank all of you. I’m also proud… more »

About the Author: Hannah Johnson serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

This week’s “Photo of the Week” comes to us from WIlliam Ng, Senior Producer at the East Asia and Pacific Media Hub, and shows U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton with a member of the Tomodachi youth program in Tokyo, Japan, on July 8, 2012. Secretary Clinton traveled to Japan as part of a nine country trip to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Japan and the United States together mounted one of the largest overseas humanitarian relief operations in American history, and the largest U.S.-Japan joint military operation ever. More than 20,000 Americans from our military and other U.S. agencies took part in what we called Operation TOMODACHI — which means “friends” in Japanese. It is because… more »

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote’s Managing Editor.

Our “Photo of the Week” comes to us from DipNote’s editorial assistant, Aaron Bruce, who captured a moment during today’s live Facebook chat with Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner. During the discussion, Assistant Secretary Posner responded to questions on transitions in the Middle East and North Africa and Internet freedom, among other topics.

Assistant Secretary Posner held the chat following yesterday’s release of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which the State Department has produced annually since 1977. These reports — available… more »

About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

This week’s “Photo of the Week” comes to us from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s official photographer Michael Gross and shows Secretary Clinton and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine hosting a Global Town Hall with Civil Society Representatives on May 16, 2012. Present in the audience were civil society representatives from more than 40 countries and senior leaders from the State Department and throughout the U.S. Government. Individuals also participated online through embassy viewing parties held around the world. 

Secretary Clinton said, “…As we see the explosion of civil society groups around the world, we want to support you. I think that in… more »