Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 139, Tuesday, July 22, 2025

“I will either find a way, or make one”, Hannibal

Welcome to the 139th Edition of the Global Business Update – As always, our goal is to keep you informed, inspired, and strategically positioned for what lies ahead on global trends. This edition is longer than most as there is just lots of global business news to make our 4,600 subscribers aware of!

This edition spans critical business, economic, and geopolitical developments from around the world—curated to help global executives stay ahead of the curve.

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate headlines and reshape industries. ChatGPT now surpasses 500 million monthly users, as companies increasingly integrate generative AI into operations. Yet this digital transformation brings new ethical and operational complexities. Meanwhile, China’s biotech sector is rapidly evolving, positioning itself as a global competitor in pharmaceutical R&D and innovation. And the growing cost of power supplies for AI.

Economic resilience is also in focus. Argentina, despite its well-documented volatility, received a modest credit upgrade, reflecting recent reforms. At the same time, U.S. investors are increasingly looking abroad, as foreign stock markets outperform the S&P 500. Trade relations, however, remain tense. The U.S. has imposed new tariffs targeting Southeast Asia, even as countries like Indonesia navigate the disruption through last-minute deals.

On the consumer front, lifestyle shifts, and global pressures are front and center. Olive oil prices are skyrocketing due to climate-driven supply shortages, while the race for ultra-long-haul flights raises fresh concerns about traveler fatigue. Countries like New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia are recognized for offering the best work-life balance—an increasingly valuable benchmark in talent attraction and retention.

In the world of franchising, Taco Bell is making headlines for its global growth strategy. Auntie Anne’s launches in Australia, and World Gym has entered Brazil through a new master franchise agreement. We also take a closer look at franchise development in the Gulf region, where ambitious growth strategies are met with distinct cultural and regulatory considerations. Updates from China and the UK include key legal and operational shifts impacting both inbound and outbound franchise strategies. KFC’s new CEO is already making global waves.

This issue’s book is Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by  Yuval Noah Harari which explores how the evolution of information-sharing systems—from cave paintings to artificial intelligence—has shaped human history, economics, and power. Harari contends that the true engine of civilization is not tools or resources, but our growing ability to collect, store, transmit, and act on information at scale. Harari’s Nexus is a timely call to rethink strategy, ethics, and innovation in the age of intelligent systems.

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The mission of this newsletter is to use trusted global and regional information sources plus our network of 20+ in-country Associates to update our global readers on key global and local trends that can impact the success of their businesses at home and abroad. We subscribe to about 40 international information sources to keep our readers up to date on the world’s business.  We do not get involved with or report on politics!

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the information sources that we provide links to in our newsletter require a paid subscription to directly access them. Clicking on a link may not give the reader access to the content.

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CEO & Global Business Advisor, Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS), Irvine, California, USA. Contact Bill with questions, comments and contributions. Bedwards@edwardsglobal.com, +1 949 375 1896

Link to our current and past newsletters:  https://edwardsglobal.com/geowizard/

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First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others For These Times

“I will either find a way, or make one”, Hannibal

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”, Henry Ford

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”, Socrates

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Highlights in issue #139:

The World’s Top Countries by Natural Gas Reserves

The Best Countries for Life-Work Balance in 2025

What Are People Asking ChatGPT? 

Global Stock Markets Are Eating the U.S. Market’s Lunch

Why olive oil is suddenly more expensive than ever

US firms say China market critical despite fraying relations other issues

Brand Global News Section: Auntie Anne’s®, KFC®, Taco Bell®, Planet Fitness® and World Gym®

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Please sign up for this amazing future looking August 6^th event at the Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of California, Irvine at this link: www.enpinstitute.com/events

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Interesting Data, Articles and Studies

GlobalVue™ Country Ranking July 2025 – The latest version of the Edwards Global Services, Inc. quarterly country ranking as places to do business has just been published. Several countries moved up the ranking in the last quarter due to improved GDP growth projections for 2025, improved investor interest in new projects or changes in country political and/or economic stability. Several countries went down in the ranking for the same reasons. The GlobalVue™ ranking has been published quarterly since 2001 and is used by companies to plan and evaluate their international expansion.

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“What Are People Asking ChatGPT?  In under two years, ChatGPT has gained 500 million monthly active users (MAUs). Software development queries are the top prompt category, with a 29% share, although it has fallen from 44% in April 2024. History and society is the second-most popular category, at 15% of prompts, up from 13% in April 2024 according to analysis from Sensor Towe. As adoption rises, daily app user time spent has surged 98% between April 2024 and April 2025. In April, ChatGPT’s top three referral sites were YouTube, Wikipedia, and the National Library of Medicine.”, Visual Capitalist and Sensor Towe, July 4, 2025

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“There are now more than half a billion mobile money accounts in the world, mostly in Africa — here’s why this matters – Mobile money allows people without banks to securely transfer funds via text message, and its adoption is growing rapidly. By the end of today, you’ll probably have used your bank account — maybe to buy groceries, pay rent, or send money to a friend. Even better, to receive your salary. It’s something many of us take for granted. However, for more than a billion people globally, transactions only happen with cash.That means carrying around physical notes and coins, traveling long distances just to send or receive money, and facing the constant risk of losing it or having it stolen. The absence of formal banking services adds yet another hurdle for people trying to escape poverty. But in recent years, “mobile money” has transformed how many people access financial services.”, Our World In Data, July 6, 2025

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“The Best Countries for Life-Work Balance in 2025 – Top-ranked countries like New Zealand and Ireland offer generous paid maternity leave (26 weeks) and high statutory annual leave (30+ days), supporting strong work-life balance. Most countries with universal healthcare also provide extensive sick pay (80–100%) and maternity benefits, reinforcing social safety nets for workers. The study evaluated paid leave, sick pay, maternity benefits, minimum wage, healthcare, happiness, work hours, LGBTQ+ rights, and safety, weighted to produce an overall score out of 100. Data was collected and analyzed in April 2025.”, Global Work-Life Index 2025, July 4, 2025

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“Global Stock Markets Are Eating the U.S. Market’s Lunch. Here’s Why—and How You Can Invest Internationally – Although the U.S. stock market has historically outperformed its international peers since the end of the Great Recession, cheaper valuations abroad, the U.S.’s higher-for-longer interest rate policy, and the appeal created by the weaker U.S. dollar are pushing some investors to look overseas. Global stocks are outperforming U.S. equities in 2025—a rare occasion, historically. Key factors contributing to the U.S. market’s underperformance are interest rate policy divergence, dollar weakness, and relative valuation gaps.”, Investopedia, July 18, 2025

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“AI is killing the web. Can anything save it?  The rise of ChatGPT and its rivals is undermining the economic bargain of the internet. As users pose their queries to chatbots rather than conventional search engines, they are given answers, rather than links to follow. The result is that “content” publishers, from news providers and online forums to reference sites such as Wikipedia, are seeing alarming drops in their traffic. As Openai and other upstarts have soared, Google, which has about 90% of the conventional search market in America, has added ai features to its own search engine in a bid to keep up.”, The Economist, July 14, 2025

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation, Taxes & Trade Issues

“Tariffs Target Southeast Asia – The region now accounts for more U.S. imports than China. Since 2016, the share of U.S. imports from China has fallen by nearly half, while imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have nearly doubled. The United States now imports more from Southeast Asia than it does from China. The new tariffs are aimed at reducing these growing imbalances. The new tariff package targets ASEAN countries not only for their trade deficit but also for their role in transshipping Chinese goods. Vietnam, now America’s largest ASEAN trade partner, faces a 20 percent tariff on its exports and a 40 percent tariff on goods rerouted from higher-tariff countries like China.”, Geopolitical Futures, July 11, 2025

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role in the global energy mix, used widely for electricity generation, heating, and as industrial feedstock.  This graphic visualizes the top 10 countries with the largest proven natural gas reserves in the world. Countries are organized and colored by region, Reserves indicates that these stores of natural gas are economically viable to extract at the current market price. Data comes from the Oil & Gas Journal via the U.S. Energy Information Administration.”, Visual Capitalist, July 9, 2025

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“How the Port of Long Beach Plans to Finally Overtake Rival LA – LA has long enjoyed the title of the country’s busiest seaport, with Long Beach almost always in second place. LA’s reign looks shaky, however, thanks to just 19 acres of new land added to one Long Beach terminal. With the expansion, annual capacity at ITS will jump about 50% to 2.3 million TEUs, according to CEO Kim Holtermand. The extra 900,000 TEUs is likely be enough to surpass LA, which last year processed 10.3 million containers. (Long Beach, despite having its best year on record, handled 9.6 million.)”, Bloomberg, July 17, 2025

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“Why olive oil is suddenly more expensive than ever – Olives were a low-stress crop for millennia, but Greece shows how climate change has made the harvest much less predictable—and growing regions more desperate. Olives have been a hardy staple for thousands of years throughout the Mediterranean because the trees thrive in dry climates. But these days olive growers in Spain, Italy and Greece—the world’s top three producers—are struggling to keep their groves from getting too dry. Bloomberg, June 30, 2025

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“China Biotech’s Stunning Advance Is Changing the World’s Drug Pipeline – Chinese biotech’s advance has been as ferocious as the nation’s breakthrough efforts in AI and EVs, eclipsing the EU and catching up to the US. The number of novel drugs in China — for cancer, weight-loss and more — entering into development ballooned to over 1,250 last year, far surpassing the European Union and nearly catching up to the US’s count of about 1,440, an exclusive Bloomberg News analysis showed. The world’s strictest regulatory agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, increasingly view Chinese drugs as generally promising enough to justify devoting extra resources to speed up their review, handing them coveted industry designations such as priority review, breakthrough therapy designation or fast track status.”, Bloomberg, July 13, 2025

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Global & Regional Travel News

“Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket – Delta has a long-term strategy to boost its profitability by moving away from set fares and toward individualized pricing using AI. The pilot program, which uses AI for 3% of fares, has so far been “amazingly favorable,” the airline said. Privacy advocates fear this will lead to price-gouging, with one consumer advocate comparing the tactic to “hacking our brains.”    Fresh off a victory lap after a better-than-expected earnings report, Delta Air Lines is leaning into AI as a way to boost its profit margins further by maximizing what individual passengers pay for fares. By the end of the year, Delta plans for 20% of its ticket prices to be individually determined using AI, president Glen Hauenstein told investors last week. Currently, about 3% of the airline’s flight prices are AI-determined, triple the portion from nine months ago.”, Fortune, July 16, 2025

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“Up To 19h 15m: The US’s 10 Longest Nonstop Flights – Some of the world’s longest nonstop flights involve the  US, a handful of which are ultra-long-haul. While definitions vary, this is usually taken to mean flights that take more than 16 hours. Inevitably, some services are operated by the niche Airbus A350-900ULR and the Boeing 777-200LR. They are, of course, designed for such missions, although both types are necessarily deeply unpopular. However, other equipment, including the A350-1000 and 787-9, both famed for their long ranges and economics, are also deployed. Unsurprisingly, Singapore Airlines from  New York JFK Airport (the US’s leading widebody airport) back to Singapore is number one. It is the world’s longest nonstop scheduled passenger flight. Famously, it uses the 161-seat A350-900ULR, with 67 seats in business class and 94 in premium economy. To help with appeal, comfort, fares, and yields, regular economy is unavailable on the very expensive-to-operate route.”, Simple Flying, July 15, 2025

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Book Review

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by  Yuval Noah Harari explores how the evolution of information-sharing systems—from cave paintings to artificial intelligence—has shaped human history, economics, and power. Harari contends that the true engine of civilization is not tools or resources, but our growing ability to collect, store, transmit, and act on information at scale. From oral traditions to writing, from the printing press to global internet platforms, each leap in information processing has transformed how societies—and businesses—function. Harari weaves historical analysis with future-facing insights, arguing that today’s AI revolution represents a fundamental shift in decision-making power, organizational design, and global coordination.

Harari’s Nexus is a timely call to rethink strategy, ethics, and innovation in the age of intelligent systems.

Five Takeaways for Global Business Leaders:

Information is infrastructure: As important as capital or labor—invest in your organization’s ability to manage and interpret data.

Adaptability trumps legacy: Every major network shift (e.g., writing, printing, AI) favors the flexible over the entrenched.

AI will redefine leadership: Delegating judgment to algorithms challenges traditional authority and requires new ethical frameworks.

Global networks are fragile and powerful: Interconnectedness enables scale—but also systemic risk.

Narratives still matter: Despite technology, human belief systems and trust networks remain vital for aligning teams and markets.

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Country & Regional Updates

Argentina

“Moody’s Raises Argentina’s Rating On Macroeconomic Reforms – The ratings agency upped Argentina’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings and local currency issuer ratings to Caa1 from Caa3. Moody’s Ratings has upgraded Argentina’s credit ratings due to macroeconomic reforms that are stabilizing and disinflationary. Argentina’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings were raised to Caa1 from Caa3. Reforms, including reduced spending, have spurred investment, wage increases and credit availability; however, structural issues persist. The economy returned to year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 for the first time in six quarters, Moody’s said. The ratings agency said Argentina’s weak external buffers and structural barriers to investment still prevent the country’s rating from rising beyond Caa1.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2025

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China

“China’s exporters shrug off the trade war—for now – How long can they continue to do so? In the first half of the year, exports grew at the same pace as they did in 2024, helping to keep China’s gdp growth on track to meet its annual target. For now, China’s exporters appear to have shrugged off trade tensions with America. But that might not last much longer. America accounted for about 15% of China’s exports last year, but just 12% in the first half of 2025. Over that period China’s exports to South-East Asia, in particular, have risen rapidly. Shipments to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia increased by 20%, 22% and 15% year on year respectively.”, The Economist, July 17, 2025

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Indonesia

“To Avoid Steeper Tariffs, Indonesia Reaches High-Stakes Trade Deal With the U.S. – Under the deal, most Indonesian exports to the United States will be subject to a 19% tariff, significantly lower than the 32% rate Trump had threatened to impose on Aug. 1. In exchange, the United States will receive what Trump called ”full and total” market access to the Indonesian economy, including exemptions from non-tariff barriers for U.S. goods. As part of the negotiated terms, Indonesia also committed to buy over $34 billion worth of U.S. imports, including $15 billion in energy purchases from firms such as ExxonMobil and Chevron, $4.5 billion in agricultural goods from suppliers such as Cargill and ADM, and a procurement agreement for 50 Boeing jets. Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 15th-largest exporter to the United States.”, RANE Worldwide, July 17, 2025

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New Zealand

“10 reasons New Zealand is the best country on Earth – New Zealand, Aotearoa, is back on top of the world. After being knocked off the premier spot of the podium by South Africa in 2023, the Land of the Long White Cloud has once again been voted the best country in the world by our readers. Yet while other countries have become less welcoming, more violent, too hot, or too polluted, New Zealand has simply continued to offer a safe and friendly welcome to visitors who come for its mountains, forests, geysers, wineries, city harbours, and beaches – to be thrilled, awed, relaxed, and awakened. Which is why we go on holiday, after all.”, The Telegraph, July 11, 2025

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United Kingdom

“FINDING YOUR WAY – The Trade and Investment Guide to the UK – This guide is provided by the British American Business which is the leading transatlantic trade association incorporating the British-American Chamber of Commerce in the US and the American Chamber of Commerce in the UK.”, July 2025. Compliments of the British American Business Council of Orange County

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United States

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The Accredited Franchise Supplier certification

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Global Brand & Franchise Sector News

“How Taco Bell plans to accelerate its international momentum – The brand’s global marketing plan includes some playful lessons on how to eat a taco. During its Consumer Day in New York City in March, executives shared aspirations to nearly triple Taco Bell’s international footprint by 2030 with a goal of reaching 3,000 restaurants outside of the United States. That plan includes entry into nine new countries, including France, Greece, and South Africa, as well as accelerated growth in the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, and India. For the brand piece, the team is connecting more with local cultures through initiatives like “encore hours” in the U.K., which allows restaurants to stay open late near music venues. It is also engaging in a bit of an educational campaign that teaches consumers the right way to eat a taco — head tilt and all, or “tiltvertising,” as it’s been called.”, Nation’s Restaurant News, July 8, 2025

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“American pretzel franchise Auntie Anne’s set to open across Australia – American franchise pretzel brand, Auntie Anne’s, is launching its first store at Sydney’s Westfield Parramatta on July 26.  The brand has been brought to Australia by business partners Yu-Jin Lee and Johann Wong, with the intention of sharing Auntie Anne’s pretzels with a brand new audience.  Lee and Wong have plans to open 60 stores across Australia over the next few years. ‘Australia represents a key milestone in our international growth strategy, and Yu-Jin and Johann with their passion, vision, and commitment to quality are exactly what we look for in franchise leaders,’ said Steven Yang, senior VP of Apac at GoTo Foods International.”, Inside Retail, July 16, 2025

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“Inside Scott Mezvinsky’s First 100 Days as KFC CEO – The global chicken giant has plans to modernize and accelerate while leaning on the people and culture that’s defined it for 73 years. One thing that separates KFC from other brands, he says, is it doesn’t merely have talent and capable leaders—it boasts them across the globe in 14 or 15 business units. Leading KFC demands understanding market-to-market strengths and potential, and deciphering how some countries can inform others, or which ones must be treated differently. Opening lines of communication and consistent, solid relationships with franchisees is one of those things, Mezvinsky says, critical to KFC’s success and why it’s managed to spread so fast globally. The chain opened 2,892 gross new restaurants across 97 countries in 2024, including 1,100 in Q4 alone. That number was 528 through 52 countries in Q1 2025.”, QSR Magazine, July 9, 2025

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“Restaurant Franchising in the Gulf: Navigating Opportunities and Strategic Decisions – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—continues to solidify its reputation as a hotspot for restaurant franchising. For U.S. brands seeking international expansion, the region offers high disposable incomes, a digitally savvy and youthful population, and a strong appetite for global and premium dining experiences. But behind the headlines lies a landscape that demands strategic planning, legal awareness, and the right local partnerships. Partnering with a single operator across multiple countries offers unified branding, centralized supply chain control, and operational efficiency, to name a few benefits.”, Franchising.com, July 11, 2025. This article is by Rebecca Viani who is partner with WhiteSpace Partners,

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“The franchisor-franchisee relationship in China – In China, the Franchising Regulation and the Measures for Information Disclosure are the two major regulations governing the ongoing relationship between franchisor and franchisee. The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) and its local counterparts are the government authorities in charge of the administration of franchise activities. From a regulatory standpoint there are some minor differences in how foreign franchisors are handled.”, Lexology, July 1, 2025

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 “World Gym International Signs Master Franchise Agreement for Brazil – World Gym International (WGI) has entered into a Master Franchise Agreement (MFA) with Flag Holding LTDA. Flag Holding is led by CEO Flavia Almeida, co-owner and operator of 17 World Gym locations in Goiás and the Federal District of Brasília. Since opening the first World Gym in Brasília in 2012, Almeida has established the brand, offering a large selection of strength and cardio equipment. The MFA grants Flag Holding LTDA exclusive rights to expand World Gym into Brazil’s other states.”, Franchising.com, June 26, 2025

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“Planet Fitness Has Right Tools to Continue Growing – The low-cost gym giant is coming off four consecutive months of higher foot traffic despite raising its signature membership price to $15 from $10. Wall Street is positive on Planet Fitness due to increased foot traffic, despite raising membership prices. Analysts believe Planet Fitness can grow by opening locations and by leaning into its “Judgment Free Zone” mantra. Planet Fitness is attracting new gym-goers and is adding strength equipment to appeal to experienced members. As of March 31, Planet Fitness had about 20.6 million members and more than 2,700 locations. A large part of its growth story—as well as the fitness industry at large—is centered on Gen Z, which analysts say is the fastest-growing demographic of gym-goers.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2025

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Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the worldthat impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, the franchise sector, economic development, and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing business environment. And our GlobalTeam™ on the ground covering 25+ countries provide us with updates about what is actually happening in their specific countries.   We do not get involved in or report on politics!

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William “Bill” Edwards: Global Advisor Is Uniquely Qualified to Steer Sr. Executives Successfully Through the Complex Waters of Going Global.  With four decades of successful international business experience spanning virtually every corner of the world and many business sectors, Bill Edwards understands the global business landscape like no other.  He has been a County Master Franchisee in five countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East; the Senior VP for a franchisor operating in 15 countries and a full-service consultant since 2001 taking 40+ companies global.

To receive this biweekly newsletter in your email every other Tuesday, click here –  https://insider.edwardsglobal.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For a complimentary 30-minute consultation on how to take your business into new countries and make money doing it. For a complimentary call with Bill Edwards click on the QR code or contact Bill at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com and +1 949 375 1896

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