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San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
US teen pilot claims innocence after charges dropped in Antarctica flight case
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Ethan Guo, an American pilot and influencer who has been trapped in Antarctica for several weeks, maintained Wednesday that he is 'innocent' of the accusations against him, after being charged by Chilean authorities with submitting a false flight plan to reach the White Continent. Guo was charged on June 29 with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorization, but on Monday a judge dropped the charges as part of an agreement with his lawyers and Chile's prosecutors. It requires the teen to give a $30,000 donation to a children's cancer foundation within 30 days to avoid a trial. He must also leave the country as soon as conditions allow and is prohibited from reentering Chilean territory for three years. According to Guo's defense, the teen pilot was granted authorizations to deviate his initial route — from Punta Arenas, southern Chile, to Ushuaia, Argentina — and land at Teniente Marsh base in Chilean Antarctica due to "weather and technical circumstances." 'My client's actions are protected by a presumption of legality arising from the authorizations expressly granted by various DGAC ( Directorate General of Civil Aviation) officials,' his lawyer Jaime Barrientos said in documents handed to the court and shared with The Associated Press. According to Barrientos, evidence was presented that 'Mr. Guo informed the DGAC as soon as possible of the change to the filed flight plan, receiving express authorization to land at said aerodrome." Guo, who turned 20 during his stay in Antarctica in July and has maintained his innocence, said in a statement sent to AP that during his original journey he 'encountered instrument failures and heavy, unreported icing conditions' which created 'an imminent risk of a crash.' 'Due to these cascading failures, Mr. Guo requested and received explicit, direct permission to land at the Marsh base from a high ranking DGAC official via WhatsApp, an authorization that was subsequently confirmed by the base's air traffic controller," it said. The influencer added that the court's ruling last Monday was 'a direct result of the prosecutor's refusal to acknowledge this clear evidence.' The prosecutor's office has maintained in several interviews with local media that Guo has handed ' false information' to the respective authority and, by doing so, put at risk 'the safety of global air traffic.' 'What the background indicates is that he always had the will and the knowledge that he wanted to reach Antarctica at all costs, putting at risk not only his life, but also the safety of global air traffic,' prosecutor Cristián Crisosto told local Radio Bio Bio in an interview Wednesday. Guo made headlines last year when he began a trip in an attempt to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents and at the same time collect donations for research into childhood cancer. But for the past six weeks, he has stayed at the Chilean Air Force base where he landed in June. He was not forced to stay there, only to remain in Chilean territory, but because of the severe winter in that part of the southern hemisphere, no flights were available. He has also been unable to fly his small plane, whose future remains uncertain.
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Taliban lures young travel influencers four years after Afghanistan takeover
Nearly four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is continuing to welcome tourists and seeing a recent travel boost. Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration. Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year, with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year. "Tourism brings many benefits to a country," he said. "We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them." One of the first Afghan female tour guides recently led a group through the National Museum of Afghanistan – the group consisted of all women. Suzanne Sandral, an Australian in the group, told AP she was surprised. "It's not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of ... accusatory looks. Not at all." She said, "Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it's very different." Another woman in the group posted videos of her recent trip in June on TikTok. She captioned a video, "Exploring the nuanced and complex lives of Afghan women in context, and exploring all this beautiful land has to offer." The U.S. Department of State, however, is very clear. It lists travel to Afghanistan as "Travel Advisory Level 4: Do Not Travel" — warning of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities. "U.S. citizen travelers to Afghanistan have been wrongfully detained for months or even years," said a spokesperson. "We remind all U.S. citizen travelers that no adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." Other traveler influencers and regular tourists have shared their experiences on social media – with most showing the Taliban-run country in a positive light. A travel photographer posted a recap of her trip, saying she was "one of the first tourists to visit the country after the Taliban takeover." She added in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 56,000 times, "I was completely blown away by the incredible hospitality of the locals, amazing food and beautiful scenery." "No adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." A popular solo traveler and social media creator posted a video of his trip to Afghanistan, writing, "I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Afghanistan travel, but honestly, I had an amazing time there as a solo traveler." Another TikTok video that amassed nearly half a million likes shows an Australian traveler shopping at a food market. "Some of the best food I have had in all my travels was in Afghanistan," said the video's caption in part. Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban's promotion of tourism is an attempt at "image management." "As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women's lives in Afghanistan," said Bakhtari. She added, "The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime's public relations strategy." The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its human rights report in May, pointing out that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce and are unable to access services without a male relative — while girls are still deprived of their right to education. The State Department wrote in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices document that treatment of woman has become progressively worse. The new report stated that there has been "further restricted access to education, employment, and freedom of movement for women and girls – effectively removing them from public spaces." "By showcasing scenic landscapes and hospitality toward foreign visitors, especially influencers, they aim to create a narrative of stability and openness," said Bakhtari. Bakhtari noted she's seen a growing disconnect in global travel culture when it comes to adventure tourism. "The thrill of visiting the 'forbidden' or 'untouched' often outweighs concern for human rights … [It] becomes a form of voyeurism, one that prioritizes personal experience over the realities of those who live under oppression." Kelley Currie, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, discussed the danger of visiting Afghanistan, saying Americans should "buy travel insurance." The United States is "unable to provide consular services if something happens, especially if they are kidnapped and sold or given to other extremist groups," Currie told Fox News Digital. Adam Duckworth, Travelmation's president and founder, told Fox News Digital that travel companies take State Department advisories "very seriously." "If you are considering travel to a location in the higher levels, then do your research to understand why those places are on those lists," said Duckworth. Bakhtari said while Afghanistan is breathtakingly beautiful, "beauty should not blind us to injustice." "Travel should open hearts, not close eyes."
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alone and 2,200 miles from home, Venezuela shuts out Puerto Rico 5-0 at Little League World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Hitting with the bases loaded at the Little League World Series, Samuel Castillo found the gap between left and center field. Two runs scored and Venezuela's lead over Puerto Rico grew to 3-0. Above the team dugout, spectators in a fan section that barely filled three rows raised one of the few Venezuelan flags in Volunteer Stadium. It took a lot for Venezuela to get here, but on Wednesday, its team made the playing baseball part of the journey look easy. Cardenales Little League from Barquisimeto went on to shut out Puerto Rico 5-0. Cardenales won all five of its regional tournament games, outscoring opponents 46-6 to become the Latin America representative to the LLWS. But in the wake of President Donald Trump's travel bans and restrictions affecting 19 countries, the team needed a special exemption from the U.S. State Department and a sign-off from Secretary of State Marco Rubio after visas were initially denied. Venezuela's senior team, players who are up to 16 years old, which was supposed to compete in Easley, South Carolina, last month was unable to get the exemption and was denied entry to the United States. 'They were working their way through applying for the exemption,' Little League President and CEO Patrick Wilson said in a news conference before Wednesday's game. 'We ran out of time, just candidly.' Wilson said there were close to 10 days for Venezuela's Williamsport team to get approved, which was 'more lead time' than the senior team. They were notified of the approval last Thursday. This isn't the first time visa snarls have been an issue at the tournament. In 2011, Uganda's visa applications were denied and Saudi Arabia, the regional runner-up, played instead. 'We'll do our best to have conversations with the great folks at the State Department that help us out in an effort to, whether we have to adjust lead times or whatever we can do, to ensure that all teams can participate and enjoy the Little League experience, whether that's at the Little League level, junior, senior, softball, whatever it takes,' Wilson said. Venezuelan players traveled to the United States without their families — parents couldn't get visas — but the coaches of last year's team that made it to the international final were among the few fans from back home sitting proudly in the stands above the dugout. Euclides and Ender Rivero only had to renew their visas which, they explained through an interpreter, was a much easier process. Maria Lewis sat just a few seats away from the Riveros holding one of the country's flags and wearing the Latin America team shirt. She's Venezuelan and lives only an hour away from Williamsport. 'I've been praying for them to come,' Lewis said. 'I'm very pleased that (their visas were) granted, because these are 12-year-olds that deserve to play their game.' 'I'm just here like a team mom, honorary team mom, so that they can feel supported, that they have people behind them,' Lewis said. Manager Luis Bermudez said the team has been keeping in touch with those 2,204 miles (3,547 kilometers) away in Barquisimeto through their smartphones, and he's grateful to the fans Venezuela did have in the stands. 'We're very happy we have all their support,' he said through an interpreter. On Friday, Venezuela will play Canada. 'I'm so happy to be here,' Francisco Rivero, who scored twice on Wednesday, said after the win. 'It's a great feeling.' Another girl takes the field at LLWS Monica Arcuri became the 24th girl to play in the Little League World Series on Wednesday when her Australia club played Panama. She started at first and rounded out the lineup for the team from Brisbane. This tournament also features the fifth female coach and a female umpire, Traci Duez, who was at second base for the Panama-Australia game. The Little League Softball World Series concluded last week with record viewership. 'For a young lady whether she chooses to play softball or baseball, we want her to have those choices, you know, and if she switches at a certain point, that's OK, too,' Wilson said. 'We just want her to participate.' ___
