Brunch Reads – 6/28/26

Two Shots in Sarajevo: By June 1914, Europe was divided into rival alliances and dealing with growing nationalism, military competition, and disputes over territory. Tensions were especially high in the Balkans, where Serbia supported efforts to unite South Slavic peoples, including those living under Austro-Hungarian rule. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, became a target for Serbian nationalist militants when he visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, on June 28, 1914.

During the visit, several conspirators positioned themselves along the archduke’s motorcade route. One threw a bomb at his car, but it bounced away and exploded beneath another vehicle. Later that morning, Franz Ferdinand decided to visit people injured in the attack. After his driver took a wrong turn and stopped to reverse, 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip happened to be standing nearby. Princip approached the car and fired two shots, killing Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie.

Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination and, with Germany’s support, issued a set of demands that Serbia did not fully accept. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28. The alliance system then brought Russia, Germany, France, Britain, and other countries into the conflict, setting World War I and, subsequently, World War II, into motion.

Business

Secretive Wall Street Powerhouse Jane Street Seizes the AI Spotlight (WSJ)
Jane Street has grown into one of Wall Street’s most profitable firms, earning nearly twice as much as Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley last quarter with a fraction of their staff. After decades of secrecy, it is becoming more public to recruit AI talent, attract startup investments, and expand its use of the technology in trading. [Link]