The excerpt changes tenses because it's talking about things at different times. The first paragraph describes completed actions which took place in the past, hence the use of past tense. The second uses the present because it's talking about things at the current time or the recent past. The third begins by talking about the past, then proceeds to discuss the current state.
Think of the first paragraph like a big quotation. It's not describing any specific actual events - indeed, the second paragraph says that the first could describe several places - just some generic history. Because it's talking about history, it's in the past tense.
It sounds in the second paragraph is talking about the first paragraph. This is in the present because you're currently reading the article. Its words sound a certain way at the time you read them. Incidentally, I find this:
But this is also, and originally, Algeria, a quarter of a century earlier—the first major political crisis in the age of modern Islamism.
somewhat confusing; specifically, the aside about Algeria. I get the meaning (I think!), but I think the remark should be expanded a bit, and probably in the past tense.
The third paragraph opens by discussing completed actions in the past:
A flurry of freedom in the late 1980s gave way...
This first sentence sets the stage with some historical context. After giving us a bit information about the past, it goes on to describe the present state of affairs, appropriately shifting to the present tense to do so:
Today the country’s citizens remain powerless spectators...
Past, present and future match up with the times being described. Very generally speaking, you should work towards maintaining a single tense in your writing, especially if you aren't comfortable with the fine details of changing them. But there are plenty of reasons to change tenses. For example:
- Simple descriptions of events, as commonly seen in news, should be in the relevant tense (past events in past tense, etc).
- Literary foreshadowing might call for future tense: he gazed over his shoulder at her. He would never do so again.
- Dialogue written as spoken or thought by persons involved should be tensed as it normally would when speaking; e.g. she said, "I will go to the store tomorrow."
Because today is a span of time and not a set point, i.e. noon or 3 0'clock, you can use all tenses, it just depends when you anchor what you're saying at a particular time.
Using different tenses will put you either at the beginning of the day or end of the day
I will watch TV today
I am watching TV today
I watched TV today
I have watched some TV already today
I had watched some TV before eating lunch today
Best Answer
Tenses in writing meeting minutes purely depend on the nature of the work or job. If the matter is still in effects, you avoid past tense. Say -
Why? Because even at this moment, the check is done.
...is it still in effect? If yes, you keep ..is checking.
This can be changed according to the current status. So, you can write -
I did not get sun's example here as a meeting minute!
Something uncertain is again probability and putting if is sufficient. And, conditional sentences, in most cases, take simple present tense.