By Hannah Pantos

The Air Force’s 18th Wing is tightening approval measures for nighttime exercises after unauthorized training last month involving simulated explosions and gunfire drew complaints from a neighboring Okinawan town.

A unit at Kadena Air Base conducted the exercises “without prior wing-level approval” on the north side of the installation Feb. 25-27, wing spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer said in an email Monday.

The training included “personnel recovery, combat search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region,” incorporating “controlled sound and visual effects to enhance realism,” she wrote.

“While there was no intent to cause disruption, the wing has implemented stricter approval measures for any nighttime operations,” Stormer said. “We remain committed to being respectful members of the community while continuing to uphold our treaty obligations.”

She declined to provide details on the new approval measures.

Kadena town officials received complaints about explosion or gunshot noises from the base on the night of Feb. 27, a town spokeswoman said Monday. A phone message left on the town’s answering machine and two text messages to an official account on the Line messaging app reported the sounds, she said.

A noise-measuring device recorded explosion-like sounds five times between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and six times between 11 p.m. and midnight, the spokeswoman said. The noise levels did not exceed 70 decibels, she said, roughly equivalent to a washing machine or a normal conversation.

The U.S. military typically notifies Kadena town before conducting nighttime exercises, but the town received no prior or post-event communication regarding the training, according to the spokeswoman.

The town contacted the Okinawa Defense Bureau, part of Japan’s Ministry of Defense, on Feb. 28 to confirm the training but had not received a response as of Monday, she said.

“We are currently confirming the facts,” she said. “We will decide our measures after receiving the response.” Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

By Walter Denmon

Oil prices decreased on Monday as US tariffs raised demand concerns, while Russia-Ukraine peace efforts eased geopolitical risks.

The international benchmark Brent crude decreased by 0.37%, trading at $72.69 per barrel at 11.27 a.m. local time (0827 GMT), down from $72.96 at the close of the previous session.

The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 0.34%, settling at $69.53 per barrel, compared to its prior session close of $69.77.

A tense Oval Office meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday led to the cancellation of a planned joint press conference. The failure to finalize a rare earth agreement further deepened uncertainties in US-Ukraine relations.

However, Zelenskyy secured strong support from European leaders over the weekend at a UK-hosted Ukraine summit.

'There is clear support from Europe. Even greater unity, even stronger readiness for cooperation,' Zelenskyy said in a late video address on Sunday after a summit with European leaders in London.

Zelenskyy said there will be many other meetings and joint efforts in the coming days and weeks.

If peace talks gain momentum, easing geopolitical risks and balancing oversupply concerns are expected to keep oil prices under downward pressure.

Trump had also confirmed that tariffs on Mexico and Canada would take effect on March 4, with a 10% additional tariff on Chinese imports.

Analysts warn that these tariffs could slow economic growth, weaken energy demand, and fuel inflation, potentially triggering a trade war that might later push oil prices higher.

Meanwhile, rising economic activity in China, the world's largest crude oil importer, limits downward pressure on prices. Official data shows that China's manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in three months in February.

While experts note that China's PMI data suggests manufacturing had a solid start to 2025, a new wave of US tariffs on China may dampen the country's economic outlook.

Investors will closely monitor the country's annual parliamentary meeting on March 5 for economic stimulus measures.