Thanks to the deep digging from Judicial Watch, we now know that President Obama's Christmas 2013 vacation to Hawaii cost taxpayers a handy $8.1 million. The itinerary, we are sure, was very similar to this year's golfing (and shave ice) extravaganza, which explains why, the known total expense to the American taxpayers thus far for all Obama travel is now $70,880,035.78. Well, it's only fair right?

2015's stock market range (from high to low) is among the narrowest since World War II. This 'compression' has led the horde of asset-gatherers and commission-takers to suggest that stocks are a "coiled spring" ready to burst higher from this newly-formed permanent plateau. However, as S&P Capital IQ's Sam Stoval notes, that is the exact opposite of what to expect based on history. In fact a narrow range year is typically followed by a low return year, not a high return year.

Violent clashes have erupted in Fallujah between the public and Islamic State militants. Iraqi News reports: A security source in Anbar province said on Wednesday, that violent clashes broke out between the residents of Fallujah and ISIS militants in the city of Fallujah.

Iran has managed to gain influence over the Middle East through the help of its ally, the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who supported Iran during the 1980’s war with Iraq. His help is appreciated by Tehran but might not be necessary any longer. President Bashar al-Assad might have needed the Iranians during the Syrian conflict of the last few years, but now with the peace talks looming, it seems that the strategic aim of Hezbollah has been achieved, and there is no more requirements from al-Assad to further Iran’s influence in the Middle East.

One month ago, Fidelity started a firestorm in the venture capital community when hot on the heels of recent downward revaluations of such pre-IPO unicorns as Dropbox, and Square, the world's second largest mutual fund (which had previously been accused of venturing where it shouldn't by buying stakes in private-stage companies and subsequently having to value them on its own) took an axe to some of its private company investments, in this case slashing the value of Snapchat, the fifth highest valued "unicorn", by 25%.