>> welcome to al jazeera america. i'm richelle carey. here are the stories we're following for you. egypt's military-backed government declares the muslim brotherhood a terrorist group. and edward snowden take an alternative christmas message to british television. [ cheering ] >> thousands turn out in st. peter's scare as pope francis celebrates his first christmas as pontiff. >> in egypt the military interim government is declaring the

muslim brotherhood a terrorist organization. deputy prime minister said there will be punishment for anyone who funds or gets involved with the brotherhood. earlier i asked why the government made this decision. >> the government has been under pressure for some time to declare the muslim brotherhood organization. the timing was right on "p. it's going to be a very divisive action because there is a portion of egypt's population that supports the muslim brotherhood. by declaring them to be a terrorist organization, anyone could por support them financia,

involved in demonstrations, involved in their business could be seen supporting terrorism. >> is this ramping up tensions in egypt? >> yes, it will ramp up tensions in egypt. i think it may drive the muslim brotherhood underground while some will simply walk away from them. i think a lot of people will decide to continue their support but underground. in a way it criminalizes an organization that frankly, a year ago in the bombing of egypts it was during an

demonstration. >> i asked if this will have an affect on the future of the organization? >> no, i don't think it will have any affect because they have done more than just announce. they have acted on the announc announcement. anyone who does anything will be punished. they have been punishing. which will not change anything in the work of the brotherhood. they've been working with the limitation of the north, and it will still be there on the ground with the alliance. >> turning now to the vatican where pope francis delivered his first message today. he offered wishes for a better world and called for peace in the middle east in africa. >> reporter: prince of peace in every place turn hearts aside

from violence and inspire them to lay down arms and undertake the path of dialogue. >> many are filled with joy today in bethlehem as many come to go to celebrate christmas. but some deal in a land with cone fronttationwithconfrontati. >> reporter: from the little town where tradition has it where jesus was born, there are 200,000 christians in the holy land these days and many here in bethlehem say their christmas is not as merry as spelled like. >> reporter: this christian palestinian family does not need to be reminded that they live in occupied bethlehem. the israeli wall that separates the west bank surrounds their home on three sides.

and every time their mother, claire, walks out their front door, this is her view. the wall is 30 feet tall. on this christmas morning her son did some last-minute decorating. they try and have a normal christmas, but their thoughts are always on that wall. this wall is ten years old. it was built after the second palestinian up rising. within claire's neighborhood they fought israeli soldiers. for claire the last decade has brought incredible hardship. >> in her ground floor shop tourists ask about her life.

she sells souvenirs of the removable walls. but since the real wall construction the family's fortune plummeted. this year christmas arrived with a huge kiss point. >> were you able to buy your children presents this year? >> no, i couldn't. the gifts this morning, i apologize for them. >> reporter: like so many here claire celebrates living just two miles from the spot where weather tradition says jesus was born. she attends christmas parades. [ singing ] >> and logical mass where the--l mass where archbishop praise for

peace. >> to pray for peace. >> on this day claire prays for the wall to come down she prays for peace. even if it feels like a long way off. >> despite it all, and despite it all, despite everything that has happened claire tells me she's still helpful because she still has her faith. >> nick schiffrin. thank you. edward snowden has made his first televised appearance since taking asylum in russia. he gave the address to run counter to the one made by the queen. >> service and duty are not just the guiding principles of

yesteryear, but they have an enduring value. >> queen elizabeth focused on reflection and a look back on her time of 60 years ago. she touched on keeping alliances with britain's former colonial territories alive. phil ittner has more or this holiday message. this alternative message from snowdon, i understand that you have a clip from this? >> yes, richelle, he did wish britains a merry christmas, then he transitioned into the main topic of his two-minute address. privacy in the age of post nsa scandal. he said that certainly the debate that is ongoing right now is an essential one.

>> the conversation occurring today will determine the amount of trust we can place both in the technology that surrounds us, and the government that regulates it. together we can find a better balance in mass surveillance. if government wants to really know how we feel, asking is always cheaper than spying. >> reporter: he also in that address to the u.k. said that the great british author george or wwell, would be shocked at te intelligence gathering capability available to governments in this day and age. >> tell us about thi the other people who have done this.

>> reporter: this has been going on since 1993. it's really just a counter balance to the queen's address. channel 4 says they would like to invite people who have been prevalent to the news, or who are culture relevant. now that they've had controversial figures giving the christmas address. anything from the gay activists quinton chris, and then mahmood ahmadinejad. and then lighthearted addresses by the likes of marge simpson of the simpsons. it's a real mixed bag and it seems that they've gone with sol something controversial, edward knosnowdon's stand and a platfom for many in great britain.

>> many drowns when their boat capsized under police tow. 33 people were reportedly rescued. they were being towed to a dock, the u.s. coast guard was assisting local authorities off the british territory in search for additional bodies. ahead take a look at this live picture that we have from the aloha state of hawai'i competing with the land of lincoln for the rights of the presidential library. >> i'm jane ferguson in kandahar, afghanistan, where a major success in women's education is now threatened with closure. does big pharma impact the doctors in their decision to not offer alternatives to the pill here? >> i think that there is evidence that if you have interactions with pharmaceutical companies, it does impact -- and there's actually pretty good

studies based -- that have looked at physician prescribing patterns and interactions with big pharma. i think one of the luxuries i have is i'm in academic medicine, and we have a policy that we don't interact with pharmaceutical companies. so i hope that gives me a better perspective. and i think a lot of these doctors aren't having these conversations with their patients because i have countless patients who come to me and said they have never heard of iud's. so i think there is some impact of that. we know there's an impact of that. and it makes it challenging, you know, to -- to have a completely unbiased view even though we as doctors like to think we have an

unbiased view, there has been evidence that shows that they do impact us in some ways. so i think it's important for us to go out and educate our providers too. there is no one size fits all birth control, and there are a lot of options that work for women. >> we want to take a closer look, are there unique challenges facing women in minority communities when >> three cabinet ministers in turkey have resigned in the latest split of the super regional powers.

three sons were arrested in a corruption bribery raid. >> reporter: there is a political earthquake going on since early this morning. three ministers of the turkish cabinet have resigned and the resignation of the third minister was significant because while he was resigning he openly criticized turkish prime minister erdogan and asked him to resign as well. he said he was putting pressure on him to make a declaration which will ease erdogan. we can say that it was important because the yo the urban plannis at the center of the corruption scandal.

prime minister erdogan does not give a direct answer to the minister, but he said it's part of an international plot, and there are some gangs within the state which organized that plot. we can say that what is happening is significant. we're going to see the results soon, but we can say that it's the first crack in erdogan's government. >> christians were targeted in three separate bombings in baghdad today. 37 people were killed. most of the deaths near a catholic church right after mass. so far no one has taken credit for the christmas day attacks. the catholics have been a common target. a series of rockets were fired, and no one was hurt in the blast. afghanistan remains a dangerous place especially for women. as u.s. forces leave the country, many worried if

education for the women will stick for the future. we go to a school in kandahar city long considered a success now facing closure. >> reporter: it's a place offering more than these girls know. a quality education in real tangible skills. a path away from poverty and early marriage towards university and a career. since 2002 the kandahar institute of modern studies have been teaching language, science, management and computer skills. there are skills that speak of ambition which in the heart of taliban country is remarkable, and dangerous. >> we are an unique school. our school is preparing women to go to jobs. preparing our school is preparing women to go to university. our school is preparing our

women to take part. the conservatives are opposite to the idea that women come out and play a role in the public. >> reporter: the journey to school is risky for these young women. those coming in use covered trucks. >> many girls will come. if they are not coming now they will come, and they will--their parents will let them get an education. >> reporter: but after surviving conservative hard liners for so long it's money problems that will likely end these girls' studies. >> one of the gifts' favorite subject by far are computer skills. there are several computers in this school, and it's extremely popular. the girls are learning how to use the internet and vet sheets

and things like that for future employment. here they had a pioneering project will girls would skype online for the u.s. those running the school say they no longer can afford internet at high speed and they have had to cancel the project. >> as forces leave afghanistan much of the aid that came with them are disappearing. this month teachers have agreed to forfeit their salaries but that won't fill the gap. >> we're going to close all these women, a saw in the classes, that's going to close. >> reporter: he said he now has to charge the girls $1 a day. some have dropped out, unable to forward it.

forward--afford it. jane ferguson, al jazeera, kandahar, afghanistan. >> it's hawai'i versus chicago in a battle brewing to see where would be the lest location for barack obama's presidential library. hawai'i is stepping up big time. >> reporter: what does the state have to offer besides the beautiful location that is behind you, jennifer. >> reporter: up deed, as the obamas celebrate christmas it would be a holiday wish come true for hawai'i if the presidential library woul were located here. >> reporter: this is ho oahu's south shore. it's a low key spot popular with locals but well off the beaten path for tourists. a lofty plan is taking shape to

change that, transforming these waters into something, well, presidential. >> there are two lots here that are possible sites for presidential library in honolu honolulu. >> reporter: associate professor of american studies at the university of hawai'i, he's spearheading the statewide effort for the official library here. >> obama in a way is the first global president. he has roots in hawai'i, kenya, kansas, indonesia, and hawai'i is a cosmopolitan city, too. it's a place to tell his international story. >> reporter: while highway could suffer from the stereotype of just sun and sand with little substance, the sheer number of tourists like it a a likely spot

to. >> they come here not just for vacation but civic as well. >> maxine is an associate law professor at u of h. >> of course the presidential library will include the library and museum. that's standard. but now we have various pallet of things that would enhance the mission. one of those things could be a policy school or policy institute. and we have a learning academy that is thinking of cultivating the next generation of thinkers in a variety of ways. >> reporter: while traditionally the libraries have been based in the president's home state, which many feel is chicago. his ties here run deep. >> we think we have an unique perspective to offer in that regard. >> reporter: so the governor is

quick to point out he doesn't view this as a competition with chicago. >> our principle object is not to compete but to compliment the motivation in putting together a comprehensive library system, a series of components that will reflect the president's true legacy in history. >> reporter: the question of where that history will be housed won't be decided by committees in chicago or hawai'i or even politico's inside the beltway. it will ultimately be u up to te president himself. the president has not indicated when he will make a decision. in the meantime competition in chicago is intensifying with the university of chicago has announced their bid. and richelle, many say the president has strong ties there.

he did teach law at the university of chicago. >> jennifer london live from hawai'i. prominent musician creates a haven for cuban heartists. his treatments are coming true.

>> yes, the art work comes alive after everyone leaves the museum. videotape can be found on the university's website.

"techknow" is up next. and check our out website at www.aljazeera.com. >> undercover and now she's taking us to new york city where some of the toughest put it to the test. >> the engineer who designed the bionic eye. he takes us to colorado to meet the man who created the 3d bionic hand.