Morning mail: John Howard pans Trump, Christmas warning, drought unbroken
Donald Trump’s failure to manage the Covid crisis cost Republicans the US election, according to Australia’s former prime minister John Howard. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Thursday: Former PM says Donald Trump’s inability to manage Covid cost Republicans US election. Plus: Israel signs off on Malka Leifer extradition
Wed 16 Dec 2020 15.24 EST
Last modified on Wed 16 Dec 2020 15.30 EST
Good morning, this is Richard Parkin bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Thursday 17 December.
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John Howard has savaged Donald Trump’s failure to handle the coronavirus pandemic, saying his inability to manage the crisis even “half-decently” cost the Republicans the US election. Speaking during a question and answer session in Canberra, the former PM pulled no punches, saying: “Every time [Trump] had a news conference he was penning a political suicide note.” The 81-year-old contraste