RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin (Shutterstock).

President Joe Biden on Monday stood by his statement that appeared to call for the removal of Russian President Vladimir Putin from office.

“I was expressing the moral outrage I felt toward this man,” said Biden, but added that he was not calling for Putin’s removal.  He also said, “The last thing I want to do is engage in a land war or nuclear war with Russia.”

According to The New York Times, in a speech in Poland on Sunday Biden departed from his script and said, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”

Meanwhile the war in Ukraine continues with Russian invaders stalled on certain fronts, with some indications that the Moscow is shifting its strategy towards consolidating its gains in the eastern part of that nation.

Will Smith apologizes for slap

NEW YORK POST put the slap on its cover (NYP).

One day after his slapping of Chris Rock on the Oscar stage, Will Smith issued a formal apology. “My behavior was unacceptable and inexcusable,” he said in a statement released through his publicist. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and wrong,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

The incident, which came after Rock made a joke aimed at Smith’s wife Jada Pinckett Smith’s hair. The shocking event somewhat overshadowed Smith’s win as Best Actor for his role in “King Richard” and pushed news of the Oscar winners off the front page of many newspapers on Monday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is planning to conduct its own inquiry and consider “consequences.”

Also in the news …

Former president Donald Trump and his legal adviser John Eastman probably committed felonies in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by rioters attempting to block certification of the election of Joe Biden as president. U.S. District Judge David Carter made the ruling Monday that cleared the way for the House committee investigating the incident to have access to 101 e-mails relating to the attack, according to United Press International.

Sports: UConn, Cards join women’s Final Four

The University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Final Four for the 14th straight year with a 91-87 double overtime win Monday after North Carolina State.

UConn will face Stanford on Friday in a Final Four semifinal.

Louisville defeated Michigan 62-50 to also advance. The Cardinals will play South Carolina in the other semifinal, also on Friday.

Weather: Rain gives way to some sun

Now that several hours of nighttime rain have refreshed lawns in the West Orange County area, the sun and clouds will play tag for several days. The forecast for Tuesday calls for a daytime high of 67 (overnight low of 55) under mostly sunny skies. Wednesday will be similar with a high of 68 (57). Thursday looks like 67 (55) with mostly cloudy conditions.

Business: Biden aims to tax the rich

A MINIMUM TAX on corporations is proposed by President Biden (Shutterstock).

Higher taxes on rich people and corporations were proposed by President Joe Biden on Monday.

According to The New York Times, he is seeking a new tax on households worth more than $100 million. It would require a minimum tax of at least 20 percent not only on income but also on “unrealized gains” such as stocks, which typically are only taxed when sold.

Additionally, Biden wants a “Billionaire Minimum Income Tax” aimed at people or households worth more than $1 billion.