Mark Memmott

President Obama today signed an executive order "imposing sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six other senior officials of the government of Syria, the Treasury Department just announced.

It said the move is "an effort to increase pressure on the government of Syria to end its use of violence against its people and begin transitioning to a democratic system that protects the rights of the Syrian people."

Oh, the heavy burden that comes to those who wear the crown.

You can't even enjoy a perfectly poured pint.

During a tour of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin today, "master brewer Fergal Murray expertly prepared a pint" of the famous stout for Queen Elizabeth, The Associated Press reports.

She declined to take a sip. Perhaps because it was before noon?

Prince Philip, the AP adds, "gazed at the brew with obvious longing but also walked away without a taste."

Cloud cover that limited visibility forced Air Force One to do a "go around" as its pilots attempted to land in New London, Conn., this morning.

President Obama was among the passengers. White House spokesman Nick Shapiro says the president and those aboard didn't even know anything had happened. The jet circled and came back in for a routine landing soon after.

Saying that Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich needs to "feel the rainbow ... stop the hate, stop anti-gay politics!" a protester showered the former House speaker and his wife with glitter Tuesday at a book-signing in Minneapolis.

Gingrich took it in stride, saying "it's nice to live in a free country" as he swept away some of the glitter.

The protester was quickly removed from the room.

"An Egyptian who was once a Special Forces officer has been chosen 'caretaker' leader of al Qaeda in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death," CNN's Peter Bergen is reporting.