BANYUMAS, Indonesia: Siswanto was a down-on-his-luck mechanic until his improbable pivot to internet videos turned his neighbours into stars and vaulted his poor farming community into the limelight as Indonesia's "YouTube Village".

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is poised to fully approve the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine early next week as the Biden administration tries to persuade more Americans to get the shot.

A total of 261 Covid-19 fatalities and 20,571 cases were reported over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Saturday morning.

Samut Sakhon reported 1,449 new Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths on Saturday, the second highest in terms of fatalities after Bangkok.

PHETCHABUN: A public hospital in Bung Sam Phan district has announced it is accepting only emergency cases until Sept 9 after the number of staff infected with Covid-19 rose to 27.

Another 12 Covid-19 deaths and 1,235 new infections were reported in Chon Buri province on Saturday, with most new cases found in Si Racha, Muang and Bang Lamung districts.

The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Public Health Office has concluded a probe into allegations that the director of Chaloem Phra Kiat Hospital allocated Pfizer vaccine doses to people close to him despite them not being eligible to receive them.

The Labour Ministry said it will implement a measure to allow pregnant employees to work from home on full pay.

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has slammed Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, member of parliament and leader of the Thai Civilized Party, for challenging Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to a kickboxing match for the premiership.

HONG KONG: Nearly a year after it was supposed to have ended, superstar K-pop boy band BTS have announced the cancellation of their 2020 Map of the Soul concert tour.