- Masood hits first ton for four years to power Pakistan to 233-1
- Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round
- Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open with back injury
- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Artist Marina Abramovic hopes first China show offers tech respite
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- Pakistan 122-1 at lunch in first England Test
- Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- 'Second family': tennis stars hunt winning formula with new coaches
- Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation
- Mexico mayor murdered days after taking office
- Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
- Japan govt admits doctoring 'untidy' cabinet photo
- Israel marks first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack
- Darvish tames Ohtani as Padres thrash Dodgers
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- Amazon activist warns of 'critical situation' ahead of UN forum
- Mourners pay tribute to latest victims of deadly Channel crossing
- Tunisia incumbent Saied set to win presidential vote: exit polls
- Phillies win thriller to level Mets series
- Yu bags first PGA Tour win with playoff win
- PSG held by Nice to leave Monaco clear at top of Ligue 1
- AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea's penalty heroics
- Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
- Fresh Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Sucic stunner earns Real Sociedad draw against Atletico
- PSG draw with Nice, fail to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Gudmundsson downs AC Milan after De Gea's penalty heroics for Fiorentina
- 'Yes' vote prevails in Kazakhstan nuclear plant vote: TV
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- Lewandowski hat-trick powers Liga leaders Barca to Alaves victory
- 'Nothing gets in way of team,' says Celtics' MVP hopeful Tatum
- India maintain Pakistan stranglehold as Windies cruise at Women's T20 World Cup
- 'We will win!': Mozambique's ruling party confident at final vote rally
- Tunisia voting ends as Saied eyes re-election with critics behind bars
- Florida braces for Milton, FEMA head slams 'dangerous' Helene misinformation
- Postecoglou slams 'unacceptable' Spurs after 'terrible' loss at Brighton
- Marmoush double denies Bayern outright Bundesliga top spot
- Rallies worldwide call for Gaza, Lebanon ceasefire
- Maresca hails Chelsea's 'fighting' spirit after draw with 10-man Forest
- New 'Joker' film, a dark musical, tops N.America box office
- Man Utd stalemate keeps Ten Hag in danger, Spurs rocked by Brighton
- Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
- Vikings hold off Jets in London to stay unbeaten
Netherlands shelves plan to cut Schiphol flights
The Dutch government said Tuesday it was temporarily shelving plans to cut flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, admitting it was a "bitter pill for the environment."
The proposals to trim the number of Schiphol flights from 500,000 to 460,000 from next year faced too many legal headwinds, Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers said in a letter to parliament.
A Dutch court blocked the plans in April and the European Commission, the United States, and Canada have also raised concerns, Harbers said.
"The government knows that suspending (the plans) is a bitter pill for the environment... I stress that the government is committed to striking a balance between Schiphol and its surroundings," the letter concluded.
Schiphol airport authorities said they were "disappointed" with the decision, "as local residents are getting the short end of the stick."
"It is time that hindrance for local residents is noticeably reduced," airport authorities said in a statement.
But airlines rejoiced.
Dutch flag carrier KLM said the decision was "an important step to prevent retaliation and to continue flying to the US."
Marnix Fruitema, head of the BARIN association of Dutch airlines, was quoted by local agency ANP as saying: "We are delighted that the minister has come to his sense in time."
The government said KLM had agreed to a series of measures that would come into force from March.
According to the minister, KLM had agreed to use its quietest aircraft at night and to avoid running passenger services between midnight and 6am.
KLM said it had agreed to a number of measures to reduce noise pollution at Schiphol, saying it "shares the government's environmental concerns and is fully committed to reducing its environmental footprint."
Y.Kobayashi--AMWN