By Shashank Joshi

Syria’s internal conflict looks to have entered a new phase. Though the death toll is still lower than that of Egypt’s supposedly peaceful revolution – 750 casualties since mid-March, as opposed to Egypt’s 846 – the use of tanks and the central role of the military rather than police forces make this episode increasingly redolent of the 1982 Hama massacre.

By Ed Jacobs

Speaking during his visit last week to Egypt, foreign secretary William Hague told reporters in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart: “The success of the Arab Spring will be judged very heavily by what happens here.”

By Shada Islam

AS the world focuses on the death and ideology of Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda’s terrorist network, it is worth remembering a time when Islam — especially in Pakistan — did not mean intolerance, extremism and violence.

By Rima Saini

For India, the discovery of Osama Bin Laden on Pakistani soil seemed to vindicate a long-standing conviction that its estranged neighbour is fostering rather than fighting the threat of Islamic extremism. Rima Saini gives her views on India's present political status and explains why she finds it so difficult to retain optimism for the future prospects of this troubled relationship.

By Daniel Frost 

It was the best of times; it was worst of times. It was the election of Labour victory; it was the election of Labour disappointment.

By Trevor Smith

I take it as axiomatic that Nick Clegg will not resign as Tavish Scott, the LD Scottish Leader, Iain Grey, the Scottish Labour Leader, or Michael Ignatieff, the  Canadian Liberal Leader have done following crushing electoral defeats. I also accept that the Coalition will endure.