News Digest: Russian vaccine questioned, Vic’s record death toll and tiny D-Day hero dies

The news overnight that Russia has approved the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine after just two months of human trials is top of the headlines this morning. President Vladimir Putin assured a press conference that the vaccine is safe, saying his daughter was one of the early recipients of the drug, dubbed Sputnik Five. The ABC reports that the World Health Organization has urged caution on the vaccine.

This comes as Victoria released its Covid-19 case data for Tuesday, saying there were 21 deaths and 410 new cases – topping the previous record death toll for a single day, which had sat at 19. And in New Zealand, PM Jacinda Ardern is due to hold a press conference to address the new Auckland stage-three lockdown after four new cases were recorded after 102 virus-free days.

Meanwhile, the annual results of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, released this morning, show the toll of Covid-19, with cash net profit down more than 11 per cent at $7.3 billion, The Australian reports, and a final dividend of 98 cents fully-franked – the first time the Big Four bank has paid a dividend below $1 since 2006. The cuts to bank dividends over recent months have been a blow to retirees who rely on them and the franking credits attached for income.

And overseas, US presidential nominee Joe Biden has named Kamala Harris as his running mate, while in the UK, The Sun reports that 5’3 soldier Corporal Bob Roberts, who is remembered as the D-Day hero who captured Germany’s tallest soldier, has died aged 97. A 1944 photograph of Roberts accepting the surrender of 7’6 Jakob Nacken captivated the public. Roberts died in his sleep after a short illness.