Must-Reads from Around the World

[Time]

Syrian Conflict — Activists allege more than 6,000 people died in Syria in March, making it the deadliest month since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted two years ago, notes the BBC. Last month, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recorded 6,005 deaths, a third of which were civilian casualties. The U.N. estimates that up to 70,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict so far. Sudan's Political Prisoners — Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has ordered the release of all political prisoners in the tightly-controlled east African country, reports Reuters. Rights groups and the opposition have accused Khartoum of detaining an unspecified number of dissidents who protested Bashir's austerity measures last year. The president, in office since 1989, did not specify when and how many prisoners would be freed. Venezuela's Interim President — Venezuela's interim President Nicolas Maduro has pledged to clamp down on growing crime in the South American country, according to the Los Angeles Times. Violent crime has quadrupled in Venezuela since 1999, and is a top concern among voters, prompting Maduro to announce an anti-crime initiative called "Movement for Peace and Life." The 50-year-old former bus driver and socialist union leader is expected to beat Governor Henrique Capriles of Miranda state in the upcoming April 14 election. The winner will fill out the late Hugo Chávez's six-year term. Gaza Education — Hamas has proposed a new law that would see Palestinian boys and girls educated at separate schools, reports the Independent. Although most older children are already educated in single-intercourse schools, Hamas has decided that children aged over nine years old should be educated separately. The announcement reinforces Hamas' commitment to ruling Gaza in a way consistent with its interpretation of Islam, notes the Independent. Last month, the United Nations announced it would cancel the annual Gaza marathon after Hamas said women would not be allowed to take part. Education is a sensitive issue in the Middle East, notes the British daily, with Israelis and Palestinians accusing each other of teaching distorted versions of history

Via: TIME GlobalSpin