US–China Summit Prep: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng kicked off high-level talks in New York on trade, AI and Iran, with a fragile tariff truce due to expire in November and rare-earth/critical minerals flow on the agenda. West Asia Supply Shock: QatarEnergy said LNG output from its North Field East expansion could return to normal within weeks if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, while the first North Field East train is now expected in 1H 2027—underscoring how shipping risk is reshaping Asia’s gas outlook. Energy Markets & Policy: Central banks moved as energy-driven inflation stayed sticky: the Fed hiked, the BoJ followed, and oil stayed tight above $100, keeping rates and currencies sensitive to supply disruptions. AI Power Demand: The IEA says electricity use from AI data centers could more than double by 2030 (to 945 TWh), with the US and China driving most of the increase—raising the stakes for grid planning across Asia Pacific. China Power Use: China’s August electricity consumption topped 1 trillion kWh again, with record peak load and faster demand growth in high-tech manufacturing and services. India Energy Security: India began initial fuel loading at RAPP-8, a 700 MWe indigenous PHWR reactor, as it pushes nuclear fleet standardisation. Trade & Tariff Risk for Energy: A new US Russia sanctions law could enable up to 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, putting India’s energy trade and export competitiveness under fresh pressure. ASEAN–Japan Energy Security: ASEAN and Japan discussed supply-chain resilience and energy security amid West Asia route risks, including cooperation under Japan’s wide energy and resources resilience framework. Russia–China Oil Flows: Russia’s oil deliveries to China rose 18.1% year-on-year in Jan–Aug 2026, reinforcing how energy rerouting is accelerating.