Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday responded to the latest findings of California’s reparations task force, which suggested how black residents could be compensated and apologized after generations of discrimination.

Part of the recommendations included payments to black Californians, with some estimates predicting the state would have to pay $800 billion — more than 2.5 times its annual budget.

In a statement to KRA 3, Newsom said many of the recommendations are things the state has already addressed, but did not give a clear indication whether he would withdraw the payments.

“Dealing with that legacy is about more than cash payments,” Newsom said in the statement. “This work must continue. Following the task force’s submission of its final report this summer, I look forward to continued partnership with the Legislature to advance systemic changes that ensure an inclusive and equitable future for all Californians.”

A group of nine, first Assembled almost two years agoA meeting in Oakland on Saturday gave final approval to the big plans.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a former Democratic legislator, created the task force in 2020 to focus on the state’s historic accusations of harm against African Americans, and not as an alternative to more reparations that could come from the federal government.

The task force previously voted to pay reparations to descendants of enslaved or free black people in the country at the end of the 19th century.

While the group’s work has attracted nationwide attention, efforts to research and secure reparations for African Americans elsewhere have had mixed results.

DENVER — Michael Malone interrupted a question about Nikola Jokic passing Wilt Chamberlain for the most triple-doubles by a center in NBA playoff history.

“Again?” the Denver Nuggets coach asked with Facebook. “Making it a habit. To be stat-padding.”

Malone’s sarcastic response was aimed at Jokic’s detractors. The two-time MVP, however, doesn’t care about the critics or the stats. He only cares about wins and he keeps his team one win away from returning to the Western Conference Finals.

Jokic had 29 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and two blocks to lead Denver to a 118-102 Game 5 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.

The Nuggets now lead the series 3-2 and can eliminate the Suns in Game 6 on Thursday in Phoenix.

Jokic capped the Suns’ season with his 10th career playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Chamberlain (nine) and tied for fifth-most with Draymond Green, Rajon Rondo, Larry Bird and Jason Kidd. Research by ESPN Stats and Info.

It was his second triple-double in the last three games, and it came after a 53-point outburst in Game 4.

“I mean, to be honest, I want to win the game,” Jokic said, when asked if he’d rather beat a team with a triple-double or scoring. “So whatever, I open the game today and I think really bad, maybe I forced it.

“Then I slow it down, relax, let the game come to me. It comes to me, it happens.”

Jokic shot 2-for-6 in the first quarter, but had five points, five rebounds and four assists in his first 12 minutes. The Nuggets leaned on Michael Porter Jr., who scored 14 of his 19 in the first quarter to help Denver open a 15-point lead.

In the third quarter, Jokic dominated, making 7 of 8 shots and scoring 17 points. He drew a technical foul from Kevin Durant when he tried to listen to a Suns huddle near half court. Durant flicked Jokic with his left forearm and the two-time MVP cut off, drawing a technical foul.

Jokic, who was fined $25,000 on Monday for coming into contact with Phoenix owner Matt Ishbia during a freak sideline collision in Game 4, was doing his best to give his team an advantage.

While Devin Booker has been talked about as the best player in the series, Malone said his center has also been dominant.

“He’s a guy who studies the game and gets what the game has to offer,” Malone said. “In this series, everybody’s talking about Devin Booker, rightfully so. His first round against the Clippers, his games against us were fantastic. But I think we can take Nikola for granted sometimes. What he does is unbelievable.

“He makes everyone around him better. Never whines. ‘Cool hand Luke.’ We are very grateful that he is a Denver Nugget.”

(CNN) A criminal case has been registered against central government lawyers New York Representative George SantosA Republican lawmaker whose astonishing lies and fabrications have stunned even hard-nosed politicians, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Santos is expected to appear as soon as Wednesday in federal court in the Eastern District of New York, where the charges have been filed under seal.

The exact nature of the allegations was not immediately known, but the FBI and Department of Justice public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington are investigating allegations of false statements in Santos’ campaign finance filings and other claims.

A lawyer for Congress declined to comment. Spokesmen for the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.

Santos’ spokeswoman, Nyssa Woomer, would not answer a barrage of questions from reporters Tuesday afternoon and abruptly left the congressman’s DC office with her bag when asked about the federal charges against him. Before she left the office, CNN saw three of Santos’ employees suddenly leave with their bags. They don’t talk when asked for feedback.

The new congressman, elected last year to represent the district that includes parts of Long Island and Queens, is under investigation by multiple jurisdictions and the House Ethics Committee.

Top Democrats, joined by some New York Republicans, have called for Santos’ resignation over allegations ranging from criminal conduct on the campaign trail to petty personal dishonesty spanning more than a decade.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would look into the allegations before deciding whether he thinks Santos should be removed from Congress.

“I look at the allegations,” the California Republican told CNN on Tuesday.

During his short tenure, Santos was accused of violating campaign finance laws, violating federal usury laws, stealing money from an Iraq war veteran’s dying dog, masterminding a credit card fraud scheme, and lying about where he went to school. served

Santos has admitted to making some false claims about his education and financial status, but continues to deny the more serious allegations.

During his successful campaign last year, Santos ran according to the Republican midterm playbook, attacking his Democratic opponent on crime and inflation. The news echoed in the New York suburbs, where GOP candidates flipped four seats and won slim majorities.

But Santos’ past has come under closer scrutiny, revealing large swathes of his official biography to be nothing but fiction, as he has increasingly adapted the persona of a right-wing troll.

He expressed his support for former President Donald Trump and once said that Democrats were “trying to ban toilet paper.”

Santos faces some pressure from his own party

New York Republicans have sought to distance themselves from Santos, insisting they know nothing of his shady past and some repeatedly urging him to leave office.

“I reiterate my call for George Santos to resign,” New York Rep. Mike Lawler said in a statement. Lawler flipped the Democratic-held seat north of New York City last year and is expected to face a tough challenge in 2024.

Republicans from more conservative districts were less outspoken.

New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis told CNN, “I’m not surprised. I understand where this is going,” but did not ask Santos to resign.

“I’d love to see someone new run because I can tell you we’re going to hold that seat, so the sooner Santos gets out, the sooner we can get someone who’s not a liar in there,” the Staten Island Republican said.

GOP Reps. Ryan Zinke of Montana and Blake Moore of Utah pointed to the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Santos.

“Let the ethics investigation happen, and if it produces anything, he should be fired,” Moore said.

Zinke told CNN, “If there is an allegation and the allegation is true, (the ethics committee) should look into it.”

“I’m surprised (Santos) made it as far as he did,” said Zinke, who resigned from his post leading the Interior Department during the Trump administration amid much scrutiny. (An inspector general’s report later found he abused his position.)

Arkansas Rep. French Hill, who is close to House GOP leadership, said he wants to see the charges but “I believe that if a member of Congress is charged with a federal crime they should resign.”

Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to shake off the embarrassment of not exposing Santos and other neighboring seats in 2024 sooner rather than later in what promises to be a costly race to win them back.

“Now that Santos has been indicted, it is Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s duty to remove Santos’ taint from this hallowed institution by immediately removing him from Congress,” said New York Rep. Daniel Goldman, a former federal prosecutor and counsel on Trump’s first impeachment. , said in a statement. “We can’t wait any longer.”

The cracks in Santos’ facade first made national headlines in late December 2022, when the New York Times published a lengthy investigation that called into question large parts of the personal story he sold to voters during the campaign. However, what followed was often stranger than fiction. An endless series of new revelations, from stealing a dog from an Amish dairy farmer to her own past claims of playing high-level college volleyball.

As the stories piled up, former friends and associates of Santos came forward and began sharing stories claiming he had ripped them off or misrepresented his financial and professional situation. The congressman’s former roommate told CNN earlier this year that Santos showed signs of “delusions of pride” during their time together.

“The truth is finally out,” said Gregory Morey-Parker, who also accused Santos of stealing her scarf. An allegation like many others Santos denies.

May remain in Congress

The charges, from a legal standpoint, do not affect Santos’ status as a member of Congress. Except for the 14th Amendment’s prohibitions on treasonable conduct, none of the Constitution’s requirements for congressional office bar individuals under criminal charges or convictions after a member has taken the oath of office.

Under formal rules for the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a Congressional Research Service report, “an impeached member may continue to participate in the proceedings and deliberations of Congress.”

However, if a member is charged with an offense punishable by two or more years in prison, they are advised not to participate in floor or committee votes under the rules of the House.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

Over the years, he has cast the day not only as a celebration of a historic victory, but also for Russia’s present-day need to defeat the Western powers he says are trying to destroy it. More recently, he has tried to weave Ukraine into that narrative, misrepresenting it as a Nazi reenactment.

The country’s largest parade, outside the Kremlin in Red Square, is expected to be a typical display of military might, with rows of carefully choreographed soldiers marching amid weapons ranging from ancient tanks to intercontinental ballistic missiles. Mr. Putin will also address the nation.

But outside Moscow, recent drone strikes against military or infrastructure targets in cities such as Sevastopol in Crimea, the home port of the Black Sea Fleet, and other attacks in regions bordering Ukraine have given authorities pause. Last week Mr. With two drones destroyed over Putin’s office, not even the Kremlin is immune.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, presented his own right to the holiday. An address on Monday Drawing a parallel between World War II and the current war against the Russian invaders. From now on, he said, May 9 will be called Europe Day to commemorate “the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and defeated racism,” a Ukrainian word that combines “Russia” and “fascism.”

“We fought then, and we fight now, so that no one would enslave other nations or destroy other nations,” he said.

In Russia, various regional governors have cited security concerns in canceling Victory Day events. They generally did not go into details, but the governor suggested that in Belgorod, on the border with Ukraine, slow-moving military vehicles and marching soldiers could call out targets.

“There will be no march without provoking the enemy with the mass of equipment and soldiers concentrated in the center of Belgorod,” said Governor Vyacheslav Kladkov. “The refusal to hold the march is related to the safety of the residents of the region.”

Several regions have banned drone flights during the events, and the Readovka news agency on Telegram reported that anti-drone weapons were provided to National Guard units.

Igor Artamonov, the governor of Ukraine’s neighboring Lipetsk region, said his decision should not be misunderstood.

“We are not afraid, we are not raising our hands,” he wrote in a telegram. “No neo-Nazi filth can destroy the Great Victory Day. But we have no right to put people in danger. It is clear to everyone that the parades are held at strictly defined times in strictly defined squares.

Perhaps the most significant change was the cancellation of the nationwide “Immortal Regiment” parade, when ordinary Russians took to the streets to display images of their veteran predecessors. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry S. Peskov said the march was canceled as a “precautionary measure” against possible attacks.

Some governors said they did not want to gather large numbers of people in the midst of war. But some analysts have suggested the Kremlin may be nervous that putting large crowds of Russians on the streets at such an inconvenient time could lead to civil unrest, even with Russia’s strict wartime laws against protests.

Analysts said revealing the scale of the toll the government is trying to hide could be especially volatile if thousands of people show up alongside pictures of the latest war casualties. Some portraits of soldiers killed in Ukraine were carried during last year’s celebrations, but the number was much lower in the two months since the fighting began.

“People don’t come out with portraits of their grandfathers,” said Elvira Vikhareva, a political activist. wrote on Facebook. “People come out with portraits of their fathers, sons and brothers. The Legion does not become ‘immortal’, but becomes very mortal, and the size is visible.

Whatever the reason, Russian officials are trying to promote an alternative, suggesting that people upload portraits to a special website or stick portraits of their predecessors on their vehicles and apartment windows.

Some local leaders far from Ukraine said they were canceling their marches in solidarity with the frontline regions. In the Pskov region, home to a famed paratrooper unit ravaged by war and implicated in possible war crimes, Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said the sound of fireworks would disturb rescuers and money should be better spent. requirements.

Other regions planned to go ahead with celebrations, but on a smaller scale. In St. Petersburg, for example, there will be no Air Force Overpass.

Some pro-war bloggers argued that the men and equipment traditionally featured in multiple deployments were more effective at the front and improved the complex war effort.

Governor Vedernikov suggested a twist, saying, “We should not celebrate victory, but do everything possible to bring it closer.”

Milana Mazeva, Alina Lobzina And Shashank is Bengali Contributed report.

Cooper has vowed to veto the bill, but Republican lawmakers hold large majorities in both the General Assembly and state Senate and could override the veto.

“They passed a bill in 48 hours with no public input and no amendments that drastically curtails women’s access to reproductive freedom,” said Cooper of the Republican lawmakers.

North Carolina’s laws, at least until now, have been an aberration in the South, where the strictest abortion laws since 1973 have been enacted in the past year. Roe v. Wade This ruling was overturned by the US Supreme Court. “The unborn will be recognized Birth is a fundamental right, and mothers deserve our unconditional support. It’s time to catch up with the science of affirming parenthood before birth,” said Sarah Stevens, a Republican member of the General Assembly of the new law.

Cooper characterized the move as harmful to women’s health.

“North Carolina has become an access point in the Southeast,” he told Brennan. “What this legislation is going to do is prevent many women from having an abortion at any point in their pregnancy because of the restrictions they put in here. Many of these clinics work so hard to treat women, and now they are going to have so many new unmet medical needs that I think many of them will have to close.

Cooper said he hoped at least one Republican would decide not to override his veto.

“We only need one Republican to keep a promise,” Cooper said. “At least four Republican legislators made promises during this campaign that they would protect women’s reproductive freedoms. They have a one-vote majority in the Senate and a one-vote majority in the House. And we’ve seen Republicans across the country. We’ve seen them advance in South Carolina, we’ve seen them advance in Nebraska. , because they know people don’t want abortion bans.

It’s James Gunn Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 It topped the weekend box office with $114 million, just behind the last film in the stand-alone Marvel Studios franchise.

The news was even better overseas, where the superhero film opened with a better-than-expected $168.1 million for a global debut of $282.1 million. It took the No. 1 spot in China with a $28 million debut Guardians (Most Hollywood movies are doing nominal business in China).

Any domestic startup worth more than $100 million in the post-pandemic era is nothing to rule out. Still, GuardiansThe early performance in North America was mixed news for Marvel and Gunn — which now runs rival DC Studios — and further fueled concerns that superhero fatigue has settled in at the box office as the 2023 summer season begins. A year ago, for example, the Marvel trilogy Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness Its domestic release rose to a series-best $187 million.

Guardians 3 There is certainly no shortage of audience love; It got strong exit scores on CinemaScore and PostTrak, and it’s already paying off. On Saturday morning, Marvel and Disney thought the movie wouldn’t gross more than $110 million over the weekend, but traffic was better than expected throughout Saturday and Friday saw a bump. If that trend continues, the trio could enjoy a long run.

Critics feel differently than consumers, and the film received the lowest score of the three films from Rotten Tomatoes critics.

In 2017, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 The first opened at $146.2 million Guardians It opened to $94.2 million domestically in 2014, not adjusted for inflation.

It’s unusual, but not unheard of, for a title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to open behind a previous installment in its respective series. Includes more unlocked sequels Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverIt was released as the Covid-19 pandemic, and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Guardians 3 It opened alongside the latest Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Mania, posted a series-best domestic opening of $106 million and $120 million over the four-day Presidents Day weekend. However, the film was ultimately considered a disappointment after debuting under $500 million, a franchise short.

The Guardians The trilogy continues a long tradition of Marvel movies kicking off the summer at the box office.

Over the weekend, the most recent observation was shown Guardians 3 It opened in the $110 million to $120 million range domestically. Early tracking showed it opening at $130 million, so the fall is no doubt about Marvel and Disney.

Guardians 3 Gunn reunites with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Newcomers include Chugwoodi Yuji as the villainous High Evolutionary and Will Poulter as the classic Marvel character Adam Warlock.

After winning four weekends, Universal and Illumination became a billion-dollar blockbuster Super Mario Bros. Movie — voiced by Brad — finally slipped to No. 2 with $18.6 million, for a domestic total of $518.2 million and north of $1.16 billion worldwide.

Elsewhere, Screen Gems and Sony’s romantic comedy Love again Dare to open in front Guardians 3 Because of going after a different audience (women). The film appeared as DOA and grossed $2.4 million, good enough for fifth place.

Written and directed by Jim Strouse. Love again Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan and Celine Dion (who contributed many new songs to Girls Bend).

A lot more to come.

The original version of this story was published May 6 at 8:13 a.m. PT.

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ 127-97 Game 3 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday meant Los Angeles began its second straight series with a win, followed by a loss, then another win to make it two. 1.

Los Angeles lost by 27 on Thursday and won by 30 two days later — and LeBron James is urging his teammates to ignore the noise that comes out after each game’s outcome.

“For young people who haven’t been a part of the postseason or haven’t had much experience in the postseason, stay off the TV and off social media,” James advised after putting up 21 points, eight rebounds and eight. helps. “You win a game and everybody’s the best player in the world; you lose a game and they throw dirt on you. It’s really that simple. It’s just training your mind for the next challenge. And, ‘What’s the next challenge? This game is over, we played well. OK. , cool. But we got another one on Monday.

Anthony Davis has become the face of the Lakers’ postseason ups and downs, with some fans suggesting his nickname, AD, is “Alternate Days” because of the night-to-night variation in his play.

Through just nine games so far — a small sample size compared to the consistency he showed in 56 games during the regular season, where he averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks — Davis continued to play hot and cold on Saturday.

He started the streak with 30 points and 23 rebounds in the 1 game win. He lost the 2nd game by 11 and 7 runs. Then it was 25 points and 13 rebounds in Game 3.

Davis said after the Lakers went 6-3 in the playoffs — 10 wins away from a title — he hasn’t heard any criticism of his performance and doesn’t believe his approach varies from game to game. His numbers are there.

“I’m not on social media,” Davis said. “My teammates don’t talk about it, my circle, my inner circle doesn’t talk about it, so I don’t talk about it. [heard about it]. That’s madness.”

Davis was 7-of-10 from the field and 11-of-12 from the foul line in Game 3. He was 5-for-11 from the field (1-for-1 on free throws) in Game 2 and 11-for-19 (8-for-8 on free throws) in Game 1.

“Same shots as in Game 1, same shots in Game 2. I made Game 1 and missed Game 2,” he said. “The same shots I made in Game 2, I had in Game 3. And I missed in Game 2, I did in Game 3. So, I look at it because I missed shots. I didn’t do anything different.

“I know, especially this time of year, I put everything on the floor and I can do it.”

The biggest change in the Lakers’ approach in Game 3 was when coach Darwin Hamm had Lonnie Walker IV leapfrog Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley in his rotation. Walker, who played a total of 27 minutes in Saturday’s playoffs, scored 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting in 25 minutes, added four rebounds and two steals.

The biggest difference in the Lakers’ performance was their perimeter defense. After allowing the Warriors to make 42 3-pointers in the first two games — the most 3-pointers made in two games to start a series — Golden State shot 13-of-44 (29.5%) in Game 3.

“We’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, if not the best,” James said, repeating the same line he said after the Game 2 loss. “And for us to reach our potential, we have to defend at a high level. And there’s not a team in this league that tests you more than Golden State.”

Starting with the first 11 points in the first quarter, including 21 points from D’Angelo Russell on 8-for-13 shooting, the Lakers knew nothing in Game 3 could guarantee what was going to happen in Monday’s game. 4 of this Western Conference semifinal in Los Angeles or Game 5 on Wednesday in San Francisco or beyond.

By qualifying for the playoffs, the Lakers can control their play with energy, effort and urgency, just as Hamm has been preaching since struggling to make up for a 2-10 start to the season.

The shots fall. Shots will miss. Players’ legs are fresh one game and tired the next.

Still, as James and Davis said on Saturday, the Lakers’ mindset is stable as long as they stay disciplined.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, the deficit, no matter what we win, 30 doesn’t represent who the team really is. Losing Game 2 doesn’t represent who we are,” Hamm said. “It’s going to be a battle to the end.”

OMAHA, Nebraska, May 6 (Reuters) – Warren Buffett on Saturday criticized his handling of recent turmoil in the banking sector and said the debt ceiling conflict could bring “turmoil” to the financial system. America and its conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N).

Speaking at Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting, Buffett criticized how politicians, regulators and the press handled the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank.

“Fear is contagious,” he said, adding that “you can’t run the economy” when people worry about whether their money is safe in the banks.

Buffett warned of a growing “tribalism” in Washington, where partisanship drives people to talk to each other.

“We have to refine our democracy in a certain way as we go along,” he said. “But if I still had a choice, I’d like to be born in America. It’s a better world than we had.”

Buffett spoke hours after Berkshire posted a quarterly profit of $35.5 billion and said it had bought back $4.4 billion in its own shares.

By contrast, other companies sold $13.3 billion in stocks during the quarter, as the S&P 500 index (.SPX) rose 7%.

The world’s sixth-richest man, Buffett has run Berkshire since 1965, whose dozens of businesses include Geico auto insurance, BNSF railroad and consumer names such as Dairy Queen and Fruit of the Loom.

Berkshire owns $328 billion in shares, close to half of Apple Inc ( AAPL.O ).

At the meeting, Buffett, 92, Berkshire’s chairman and chief executive, and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger answered questions from shareholders for five hours. Vice Presidents Greg Abel, 60, and Ajit Jain, 71, joined in the morning.

Buffett reiterated on Saturday that Abel would succeed him as CEO, while saying he had no plans if Abel could not.

At the meeting, Berkshire shareholders re-elected all directors and rejected shareholder proposals related to climate change, diversity and political action.

Easy competition

Buffett said regulators were right to guarantee Silicon Valley bank depositors, saying it would have been “catastrophic” if they hadn’t done so.

He also said that bank shareholders and executives should bear the risks of mismanagement, and Munger criticized executives who cared more about getting rich than customers.

“A lighted match can turn into a collision or explode,” Buffett said. “You must punish those who do wrong.”

Buffett also said he couldn’t imagine politicians or regulators willing to “disrupt the world’s financial system” if Washington failed to break its deadlock on raising the debt ceiling, or how much the government could borrow.

Anticipating banking-related questions, Buffett drew laughter by putting the words “available for sale” in front of him and “maturity to maturity” in front of Munger.

These address how lenders account for their securities, a central issue in the recent banking crisis.

Buffett said he is wary of Berkshire banks and has sold some bank stocks in the past six months.

Saturday’s meeting is the centerpiece of what Buffett calls a “Woodstock for capitalists” weekend, drawing tens of thousands to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

Attendance increased from 2022, with Berkshire receiving ticket requests from 45 countries. Unlike last year, the city hall hosting the meeting was packed.

Munger: Get used to less

Discussing Berkshire’s performance, Buffett said most of its operating businesses will fare worse in 2023 than in 2022 as economic activity slows.

But Berkshire said it could offset this with higher returns on investments, including the $7 billion in Treasury bills it bought in April.

Buffett defended the size of Berkshire’s $151 billion investment in Apple, saying that consumers are less likely to give up $1,500 iPhones than $35,000 second cars, for example.

“Apple is different than any other business we’ve owned,” Buffett said. “It’s going to be a great business.”

He also said that while Berkshire owns nearly a quarter of Occidental Petroleum Corp ( OXY.N ), it has no plans to take control of the oil company.

Many investors follow similar strategies, prompting Munger to grumble that value investors—like himself—and much of the audience—”should get used to earning less.”

Buffett also said that a 15% tax rate would not bother him. An agreement by 137 countries to implement minimum corporate taxes at that level by 2021 has not been implemented by the US.

Munger, a longtime China bull who led Berkshire’s investment in electric car maker BYD Co, called for less tensions between the country and the United States and increased trade.

“It’s in our mutual interest,” he said.

Buffett cited those tensions as saying he was more comfortable stationing capital in Japan than Taiwan.

Abel, who oversees Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses, said BNSF is taking the latest industry-related derailment seriously and “will come down to responding properly.”

Waiting in line

Ahead of the meeting, dozens of uniformed pilots at Berkshire-owned NetJets protested outside the arena to protest low pay, long hours and fatigue.

Meanwhile, thousands of shareholders lined up outside the arena ahead of the opening at 7 a.m. CDT (1200 GMT). Many recognized that this might be one of their last chances to see Buffett and Munger.

Vidya Vivekananda, an investment partner from Vancouver, Canada, said she and her husband arrived 30 minutes early for their first meeting.

“It’s been on our bucket list for a long time,” he said. “We don’t know how long Warren and Charlie will last before they send it.”

Yongsheng Zhao, who lives in Shanghai and is a researcher at an asset management firm, said he arrived in the middle of the night with a chair to see Buffett and Munger for the eighth time.

“I was impressed by their passion and naturalness,” he said. “I believe they can go another five years or so.”

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska; Additional reporting by Carolina Mandel and John McCrank in New York; Editing by Megan Davies, Ira Iospashvili and Diane Croft

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.