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Two bullets in Sarajevo ended years of peace and launched the 20th century on a path that would make it the bloodiest in human history.
But the Great War was by no means inevitable and the search for a culprit is the wrong one. Starting the war was a tragedy, not a crime.
As the 100-year anniversary of WWI nears it is time to reflect on what lessons can be learnt from the battles of the past.
Topics: world-war-1, history, death, world-politics
As the jobs of the past disappear across Australia, there is little comfort to be taken from the Prime Minister's vision for the jobs of the future ... in road construction.
For all its talk of reducing welfare and entitlements, the Federal Government continues to prop up non-viable businesses while treating politician and executive pay as off limits.
Both sides of politics have played a direct role in the demise of Australian industry and have squandered the proceeds of the resources boom.
Australia has a legal right to defend its shores, but the Abbott government's border protection policy has begun to drift into some legal grey areas.
Abbott and Hockey appear to have mastered the alchemy of public opinion transformation, but will face their biggest test when they release their first budget.
Even the most politically correct and progressive have a blind spot when it comes to our attitude towards animals. It's time to acknowledge it and get over it.
When I took an offshored gig with Fairfax, I found myself playing an unwitting role in the rise of New Zealand as a low-wage economy.
Many Australians are upset by the idea of Schapelle Corby earning millions from a media deal. But is there a case for letting her keep the money?
How the Israeli PM balances his desire for a peaceful solution with Palestine with his need to calm the ultra-right faction at home will reveal how much he supports the two-state solution.
When it comes to bailouts, Denis Napthine and Tony Abbott are caught in the war between economic rationalism and political pragmatism.
A knack for getting runs at just the right moment has seen Steve Smith rise from the fringes of the Australian Test squad to become its likely future skipper.
Instead of persisting with corporate welfare that fails, governments should focus on things that can boost the performance of businesses.
The Prime Minister's grand hope for finding the jobs of the future lies in road construction.
Both sides of politics have played a direct role in the demise of Australian industry and have squandered the proceeds of the resources boom.
Abbott and Hockey appear to have mastered the alchemy of public opinion transformation, but will face their biggest test when they release their first budget.
Tony Abbott allowed his strong argument in favour of ending industrial subsidies to become an attack on the conditions of low-paid workers.
Two bullets in Sarajevo ended years of peace and launched the 20th century on a warpath that was by no means inevitable.
Australia has a legal right to defend its shores, but the Abbott government's border protection policy has begun to drift into some legal grey areas.
Even the most politically correct and progressive have a blind spot when it comes to our attitude towards animals. It's time to acknowledge it and get over it.
When I took an offshored gig with Fairfax, I found myself playing an unwitting role in the rise of New Zealand as a low-wage economy.
Mishandled miningBoth sides of politics have played a direct role in the demise of Australian industry and have squandered the proceeds of the resources boom, writes Ian Verrender.
Talk gruel, lavish porkThe Federal Government continues to prop up non-viable businesses while treating politician and executive pay as off limits, writes Leith van Onselen.
Jobs head eastWhen I took an offshored gig with Fairfax, I found myself playing an unwitting role in the rise of New Zealand as a low-wage economy, writes Rachel Buchanan.
Protectionism failsInstead of persisting with corporate welfare that fails, governments should focus on things that can boost the performance of businesses, writes Simon Cowan.
The ogre of deflationThe world is in the grip of debt and deflation, and firms that can't keep up with the rigours of falling prices are falling by the roadside, writes Alan Kohler.
The manufacturing industry closures are in regional areas, have historical/cultural baggage, and employ blue-collar workers. The people losing jobs are going to have a tough time finding work again, and the whole region will suffer flow-on effects for many years to come.
Darren on No photo ops, no industry subsidies via story comment.
It doesn't matter if Paul Howes is positioning himself as the next Bob Hawke or the under-appreciated Bill Kelty, there is no hope for a tripartite agreement between employer unions, employee unions, and the government while the Abbott Government is hell-bent on ideological and cultural warfare.
Fred the Big Cat on Beyond the straitjacket of unions vs business via story comment.
It's funny how we all think she got what she deserved, while simultaneously knowing that if anyone got thrown in a rat-infested jail in Australia for 20 years just for a big bag of grass we'd all be marching on the streets.
Mitor the Bold on Our Schapelle: a smuggler for all seasons via story comment.
Be my valentineProposals on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to a hugging marathon, this is how the world spent Valentine’s Day. [New York Times]
Bus bomb in EgyptOfficials are investigating a bus bombing that killed at least four people on Egypt's border with Israel [Reuters]
Ellen Page comes outActress Ellen Page delivers a rousing and emotion speech at the inaugural Time to Thrive conference. [Youtube]
Wet weather brought some much needed rain to the northern South Australia town of Coober Pedy on February 14, 2014.
