Even Mount Everest is not immune from fraudsters as a new report has revealed that guides have been using scare tactics, including secretly lacing climbers’ food to sicken them and trigger costly helicopter rescues and hospitalization, as part of a $45 million insurance scam. Authorities in Nepal recently charged 32 individuals with organized crime and fraud charges related to the plot, which involves trekking company owners, helicopter operators, and hospital executives, the Kathmandu Post reported Friday. Two more US military aircraft were downed in the Middle East on Friday, in addition to an F-15E Strike Eagle that crashed earlier. An A-10 Warthog reportedly went down contemporaneously with the crash of the F-15, according to the New York Times. Officials have not stated the cause of the crash or the country where it occurred, but it reportedly occurred near the Strait of Hormuz. As the US ramps up the pressure on the Caribbean island, the Cuban communist dictatorship announced that it has freed more than 2,000 prisoners. It’s the second prisoner amnesty this year alone, amid talks with the US administration of Donald J. Trump. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/under-mounting-us-pressure-cuba-sets-2000-prisoners/ IT’S HAPPENING: Artemis II began its historic flyby of the moon. This is the mission’s main event, as the crew beams back to Earth the first glimpses ever of parts of the dark side of the moon. The New York Post reported: “The capsule began the flyby around 2:45 p.m. ET, and will spend just over six hours arcing around the moon with its windows pointed toward the far side of the lunar surface. All four crew members will become the first people in history to see certain swaths of the far side — since most it remained in shadow when the Apollo missions orbited the moon over 50 years ago.” The Apollo flights were close to the surface with a limited range of sight, while Artemis will stay between 4,000 and 6,000 miles from the moon, and crew will see the entirety of the far side under the full light of the sun. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/its-happening-artemis-ii-begins-its-moon-fly/ A federal judge on Monday rejected Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan’s bid to toss out a jury’s guilty verdict on charges for helping an illegal alien evade ICE agents. US District Judge Lynn Adelman, a Clinton appointee, denied Hannah Dugan’s motions. In December, Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan was found guilty of obstruction for helping an illegal alien evade ICE agents. She is facing five years in prison. According to the FBI, Dugan became angry when she found out that ICE agents were waiting outside of her courtroom last week to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal alien involved in a domestic abuse case she was overseeing. She allegedly directed Flores-Ruiz to exit the courthouse through a private jury door to evade arrest. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/federal-judge-rejects-wisconsin-judge-hannah-dugans-bid/ 
Report: Mount Everest Guides Poisoned Climbers as Part of $45 Million Helicopter Rescue Scam:
DEVELOPING: A-10 Warthog Downed and Black Hawk Helicopters Take Fire Amid Search for Missing F-15 Pilot – Pilots Safe:
Under Mounting US Pressure, Cuba Sets Over 2,000 Prisoners Free:
IT’S HAPPENING: Artemis II Begins Its Moon Fly-By, as Four Astronauts Break the Distance Record From the Earth (VIDEOS):
Federal Judge Rejects Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan’s Bid to Toss Out Jury’s Guilty Verdict on Charges for Helping Illegal Alien Evade ICE: