Clinton returns to applause and a football helmet

US: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received a standing ovation from her staff and an American football helmet to protect her from Washington’s hard knocks as she returned to work after a health scare.

A month to the day since she was last seen on official duties when she flew back from a trip to Europe on December 7, Clinton chaired her regular weekly Monday meeting with her closest staff and advisers.

“It is a great day here in the department... Secretary Clinton is back to work,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, adding that the 75 people present at the meeting had welcomed her with a standing ovation.

Clinton, 65, suffered a blood clot to her head after a fall in December.

She now “looks fantastic, she seems to be terrific,” Nuland said. “She is in the pink, literally. She’s wearing a brilliant pink jacket today.” As a joke, the staff presented her with a white football helmet, with “lots of good padding” bearing the State Department’s seal, and a blue football jersey printed with the words “Clinton” and “112,” to signify the number of countries she has visited during her four-year tenure, Nuland said.

Clinton has set a new record for the number of countries visited by any secretary of state, flying on a reconfigured US Air Force Boeing 757, outfitted with a small cabin for her use.

AFP