How much do you slow down on Sunday in preparation for the week? Today, you will get the big picture of the geopolitical trends and opportunities most affecting you.

Who Will Win The Next Economy

As companies fight for A.I.'s future, nations and geopolitical groups are competing to control the next economy.

Why it matters: The state of the next economy depends on the victors of the complex and soft wars among the teams in play.

The big picture: There are two main teams and a list of other countries that may temporarily join forces with one of them.

• The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and, unofficially, the E.U.

• BRICS is the intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

• Countries like Iran and North Korea are more independent and are currently siding with Russia.

Zoom in: China is "developing the counter-space capabilities to threaten U.S. and allied satellites and developing sophisticated launch capabilities that are moving much more toward reusable launch vehicles."

• The NYT explains, "Russia, China, India and the United States have tested anti-satellite missiles, and several major world powers have developed technology meant to disrupt signals in space."

Driving the news: Vox reports, "A coalition of Western countries, including the E.U., and the G7, implemented a "price cap" that allowed Russian oil sold below $60 a barrel—about $20 below the current market price—to use Western shipping infrastructure and insurance."

• The U.S. government's executive orders to restrict outward investment into Chinese advanced technology and sanctions around Chinese tech companies have created considerable worries for U.S. investors.

• Reuters explains, "The Commerce Department in 2022 barred U.S. companies from shipping equipment to Chinese factories producing advanced chips, as the U.S. seeks to severely limit Beijing's technological advances over national security concerns."

Follow the money: In addition to the countries involved, Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla appear in geopolitical conversations.

• SpaceX also has a multi-billion dollar contract with NASA to provide Starship rockets for the U.S. space agency's Artemis program, which aims to return people to the Moon within the next few years.

• Beyond that, Musk plans to use a fleet of Starships to ferry crew and cargo across the Solar System to set up a permanent human colony on Mars.

Reality check: China's CATL, the world's largest maker of batteries for electric vehicles (E.V.s), has already partnered with Ford, is in talks with G.M., and is working with Tesla.

• Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has finalized the strictest tailpipe emission standards ever.

• Oilprice.com reports that "the new standards would make all gasoline and diesel-powered light vehicles illegal in less than 10 years."

Further Reading

• https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/who-will-win-the-new-economy-56808d4c5e8b

• https://banananomics.co/the_wests_war_with_china

• https://banananomics.co/russian_oil_profits_capped