Indonesia, France Set to Sign Defense Letter During Macron Visit
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and France's President Emmanuel Macron are poised to sign a letter of intent to strengthen a defense partnership that has already led to the Southeast Asian nation purchasing billions of dollars' worth of French weaponry.
The pact will be signed during bilateral talks Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters. The cooperation will focus on items such as 'strategic defense equipment,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Entrepreneur
Manila-Based telehealth Startup &you Secures Pre- Seed Funding from International Investors
The company is launching with a focus on some of the most neglected and misunderstood health issues in Southeast Asia. But its broader ambition is to become the region's most seamless and trusted online healthcare platform — a market expected to surpass $22 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of over 18%. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. &you ( a health tech startup founded by entrepreneur Emil Eriksen, has raised an undisclosed amount in pre-seed funding, backed by a strategic group of early investors in a round led by New York-based VC Everywhere Ventures. "Despite a dynamic global trade environment, the macro tailwinds behind Southeast Asia and the Philippines in particular are unquestionable. We believe in rising prosperity, the incredible power of an expanding middle class, and the demand that creates for quality healthcare products. We are excited to be investing in the Philippines for the fifth time," said Scott Hartley, co-founder and managing partner, Everywhere Ventures. The company is launching with a focus on some of the most neglected and misunderstood health issues in Southeast Asia. But its broader ambition is to become the region's most seamless and trusted online healthcare platform — a market expected to surpass $22 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of over 18%. Rebuilding Healthcare Starts with Restoring Trust In the Philippines, trust in the healthcare system is in short supply — and for good reason. Ninety percent of people self-medicate, not by choice but out of necessity. Seven in ten rural patients travel hours just to see a specialist. Half of Filipinos can't reach a clinic within 30 minutes, and 50% of families face financial hardship just trying to access basic care. For millions, traditional healthcare is either out of reach, unaffordable, or unreliable. That's the gap &you is stepping into — not just with technology, but with a new model built around clinical credibility, licensed care, and patient trust. Tech at its core — not layered on later While a few players already exist in the space, &you believe the current offerings fall short — especially in markets like the Philippines, where patients are often left with overpriced products, clunky apps, or worse: black-market alternatives. &you offers licensed doctor consultations and FDA-compliant treatments through a streamlined digital platform — no clinic visits required. &you is developing a fully localized end-to-end system — from mobile onboarding and medical intake to prescription and nationwide delivery — built specifically for Southeast Asia's infrastructure and behavior. The platform will use advanced technology to help users assess their health and connect them with licensed local doctors to create personalized treatment plans. "We're addressing unique regional challenges such as disrupted supply chains, user- unfriendly platforms, and a significant trust deficit. Our goal is to make getting help feel as easy and safe as ordering food," said Emil Eriksen, Founder of &you. A Homegrown Model with Global Standards Behind the scenes, &you works only with FDA-compliant partners and fully-licensed doctors, ensuring that all treatments are not only accessible but also safe and fully regulated. The company emphasizes user experience and clinical credibility — not just cheaper medicine. All &you orders are handled through carefully selected partners to ensure a smooth and confidential delivery experience. Early Traction Signals Big Demand Since launching just this April, &you has already seen rapid traction, with thousands of customers in the few month, and expects to scale quickly as awareness grows. The new funding will be used to scale engineering, expand local operations, and prepare for entry into new verticals in the next 12 months. "Healthcare doesn't work here the way it should," Eriksen says. "We're fixing that — one problem, one product, and one person at a time."
Entrepreneur
2 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Kosmc AI Raises Pre-Seed Round to Power AI-Driven Social Commerce
The fresh funding will be used to enhance Kosmc AI's no-code product suite, deepen affiliate integrations, and scale operations across India and Southeast Asia. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Delhi-based startup Kosmc AI has secured USD 200,000 in pre-seed funding from undisclosed angel investors across India and the Middle East to expand its AI-led social commerce infrastructure. The funding will be used to enhance Kosmc AI's no-code product suite, deepen affiliate integrations, and scale operations across India and Southeast Asia. The startup is on a mission to simplify how creators and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands monetise content and engagement across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Founded in 2024 by Ankur Gupta and Manavta Narula, Kosmc AI is building infrastructure that bridges the gap between social media engagement and actual commerce. The startup claims to have already supported over 160,000 monthly active users in more than 25 countries. "Social platforms are now where discovery and engagement begin, but monetisation still relies on traditional e-commerce systems," said Ankur Gupta, Founder and CEO of Kosmc AI. "Kosmc is building infrastructure that allows individuals and brands to convert conversations and content into commerce—without needing code, commissions, or technical complexity." Kosmc AI offers a powerful suite of four tools: Link-in-bio storefronts for selling directly via social media for selling directly via social media Chat automation tools for handling customer conversations for handling customer conversations Smartlinks to simplify mobile checkout journeys to simplify mobile checkout journeys Affiliate infrastructure that connects creators with D2C brands The company's no-code approach empowers digital-first entrepreneurs, content creators, and early-stage brands to own their commerce journey in a mobile-first, creator-led economy. Co-founder and COO Manavta Narula added, "The company's mission is to make the digital economy more accessible. Commerce today needs to be creator-first, mobile-native, and frictionless. We are building tools that allow anyone to own their narrative, engage meaningfully, and earn from their presence online without heavy dependencies." As the creator economy continues to surge, Kosmc AI positions itself at the forefront—enabling seamless monetisation where content, community, and commerce converge.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Thailand Vows to Defend Border Amid Tensions With Cambodia
Thailand's armed forces are ready to defend the border in the face of a deadly clash with Cambodia that erupted last week, a top official said, adding that the country wants to maintain peace with its neighbor. 'At this stage, neither side wants war,' Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as defense minister, said after a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday. The two countries have sought to defuse tensions following an exchange of gunfire between rival troops on May 28 in the disputed Chong Bok border region, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
