{
  "id": 14821146,
  "title": "The Balance of power The valiant, the vain and the villain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/the-balance-of-power-the-valiant-the-vain-and-the-villain",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T23:45:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/the-balance-of-power-the-valiant-the-vain-and-the-villain/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the ancient world, the intervention of a Persian king restored balance in West Asia. Cyrus the Great stopped Babylon's aggressive expansionism and freed exiled Jews. His successor, Darius, fulfilled Cyrus's plans by rebuilding Jerusalem and its temple. The story of Cyrus, known as the \"Anointed Deliverer,\" became part of Jewish Scriptures. This tale impacted Christianity, as early Christians saw the Roman Empire as a new Babylon. Today, the US and Israel bully others, just as Babylon did to the Jews. This alliance threatens sovereign nations and fabricates evidence for aggression. Iran, an ancient and advanced civilization, faces a despotic theocratic government. It has crushed dissent, prevented democratic growth, and challenged western interests. Iran has been vilified as a global villain, despite backing from some neighboring countries. Wars change perceptions, and the current war on Iran may redefine global views. Iran's resilience and defiance have strengthened European and British allies' resolve to say \"no\" to war. This has led to neutral powers distancing themselves from Babylon's bullying tactics. While the path to a balanced and stable region remains uncertain, the impact of Cyrus's Persia on today's geopolitical landscape is evident.",
  "summary": "by Bishop Duleep de Chickera The Valiant Centuries ago, the intervention of a Persian king, restored a degree of balance of power in the West Asian region. In the 6thc, BCE, Cyrus the Great of Persia, put a stop to the aggressive expansionism of the Babylonian empire and set the exiled Jews free. After Cyrus’s […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}