United States

Trump's sweeping, and immediately enforced ban on people seeking refuge in the United States and visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries which will last at least three months has caused what Reuters dubs "chaos, panic and anger" - as well as lawsuits - not only among travelers on Saturday - with some denied entry to the US and turned back from U.S.-bound flights - but also among US allies such as France and Germany.

With the world (apart from Israel) in uproar over President Trump's decision to ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, Department of Homeland Security official Gillian Christensen just confirmed "[the order] will bar green card holders" and those who hold dual nationality also will be barred.

Green cards serve as proof of an individual’s permanent legal residence in the U.S.

In the immediate aftermath of Trump's controversial executive order, prohibiting entry into the US of citizens from seven mostly-Muslim nations - Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya - yet which excludes such nations as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in which Trump has done business deals...

... Google issued a stark warning to staff traveling overseas who may be impacted by Trump's new executive order on immigration: Get back to the U.S. now.

California is officially one step closer to breaking away from the United States after documents were submitted to the Secretary of State that could trigger a public vote.  A group pushing for California to secede from the Union submitted proposals to the Secretary of State’s office on Thursday, which is likely to result in the plan being put on the ballot.

Submitted by Bill O'Grady via Confluence Investment Management,