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Virtually Anyone Can See The Dead Sea Scrolls Now

Credit Uriel Sinai / Getty Images

A fragment of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls is laid out at a laboratory in Jerusalem. More than 60 years after their discovery, 5,000 images of the ancient scrolls are now online.

By editor

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 5:38 pm

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This week, an ancient and largely inaccessible treasure was opened to everyone. Now, anyone with access to a computer can look at the oldest Bible known to humankind.

Thousands of high-resolution images of the Dead Sea Scrolls were posted online this week in a partnership between Google and the Israel Antiquities Authority. The online archive, dating back to the first century B.C., includes portions of the Ten Commandments and the Book of Genesis.

6:13 am

Sat December 29, 2012

Congressional Leaders 'Hopeful' Of Deal On Fiscal Cliff As Deadline Nears

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Credit Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images

House Speaker John Boehner arrives at the White House on Friday for talks with President Obama and congressional leaders aimed at avoiding the "fiscal cliff."

Credit Evan Vucci / AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada leaves the White House after a closed-door meeting with the president and congressional leaders.

By David Welna

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 5:38 pm

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Even though the top four congressional leaders left their White House meeting with the president separately and silently on Friday, they cast the hourlong encounter in a positive light back at the Capitol.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described the tone of the discussion to head off across-the-board tax hikes and spending cuts as "candid." An aide to House Speaker John Boehner put out a statement that noted that the group agreed the next step should be the Senate's — a tacit acknowledgement that Boehner is no longer the lead negotiator with President Obama.

5:22 am

Sat December 29, 2012

Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption: Unresolved Issues In France

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Credit Valery Hache / AFP/Getty Images

A man wears a costume reading "Dad" and "Mom" during a demonstration against gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in Nice, France, in October.

Credit Lionel Bonaventure / AFP/Getty Images

People hold placards reading and support of legalizing marriage and adoption for gay couples, during a demonstration in Paris on Dec. 16.

By Eleanor Beardsley

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 8:14 pm

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France is known as a tolerant country on many social issues, yet the country is embroiled in a debate about same-sex marriage and adoption.

President Francois Hollande is following through on a campaign promise to bring full rights to gay couples. France legalized civil unions more than a decade ago, though same-sex couples must still go abroad to marry or adopt.

But opposition to Hollande's measure has been unexpectedly fierce, something the Socialist government wasn't expecting.

5:21 am

Sat December 29, 2012

Obama: 'The American People Are Watching What We Do Here'

Credit Evan Vucci / AP

"I'm optimistic we may still be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses in time," the president said after meeting with congressional leaders at the White House on Friday.

By Ari Shapiro

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 5:38 pm

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We have reached the last weekend of the year, and Washington still has not reached a deal to avert the big tax hikes and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.

President Obama met with top congressional leaders at the White House on Friday afternoon: John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi from the House, and Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell from the Senate.

6:50 pm

Fri December 28, 2012

New Immigration Battle: Driver's Licenses

By Corey Dade

Originally published on Fri December 28, 2012 7:19 pm

In a sign of growing opposition to President Obama's immigration policy, Iowa has become the latest state to deny driver's licenses to young illegal immigrants who receive deferments from deportation.

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