the estate of william j. carter, and the corporation for public broadcasting.

the estate of william j. carter and the corporation for public broadcasting. >>> welcome. i'm kim lawton, sitting in for bob abernethy. thank you for joining us. >>> this week, the world's more than 1 billion muslims began observing their holy month of ramadan. during the month, muslims are expected to fast every day from dawn to sunset and to offer special prayers and give to the poor. they break their fast with the traditional iftar meal. >>> a new survey out this week says american muslims are very optimistic about their lives in the us. and, according to the gallup organization's middle east center, american muslims' perceptions of their overall well-being increased more in the past three years than those of any other religious group. but circumstances are not as optimistic for muslims in several other parts of the world. >>> there was an international outcry about syria's intensified crackdown this week against anti-government protestors. the u.n. security council condemned what is being called "the ramadan massacre." the u.s.-based muslim public affairs

the estate of william j. carter, and the corporation for public broadcasting. >> welcome. i'm deborah potter, sitting in for bob abernethy. thank you for joining us. >> humanitarian organizations continue to rush aid to famine victims in east africa, as the united nations called for more than a billion dollars in additional relief funds. a british official warned that 400,000 children could die of starvation in coming months if more action is not taken. reports surfaced this week that food supplies are being stolen and sold in markets in the capital of somalia. the world council of churches denounced any interference with aid delivery as "inhumane." president obama called this week for the resignation of syrian president bashar assad. the administration also announced new sanctions that secretary of state hillary clinton said would further isolate the syrian regime. the syrian government crackdown on protestors has intensified in recent weeks in what some have called the ramadan massacre. several hundred people are believed to have been killed since the islamic