Black Friday begins, Karachi consulate attack, Pisa tower leans less

A crucial weekend for Brexit. UK prime minister Theresa May meets with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Saturday, and EU leaders may sign off on the withdrawal agreement and an outline of future ties on Sunday. Madrid has threatened to veto the deal over Gibraltar, the British-ruled territory off southern Spain. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today and over the weekend A crucial weekend for Brexit. UK prime minister Theresa May meets with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Saturday, and EU leaders may sign off on the withdrawal agreement and [an outline of future ties]( on Sunday. Madrid has [threatened to veto]( the deal over Gibraltar, the British-ruled territory off southern Spain. Taiwan goes to the polls. Ahead of Saturday’s local elections, which take place [alongside referendums]( including ones on [same-sex marriage]( voters have been flooded with [anti-LGBT messages]( while [China has been accused]( (paywall) of interference. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party [faces a tough fight.]( The US gets a climate update. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest climate assessment is [expected to focus]( on climate change’s impact on health and infrastructure. Releasing the report on a US holiday when people are distracted has attracted criticism. Black Friday kicks off. The shopping bonanza has [gone global]( with Amazon leading the way by offering sales in several markets. In the US, [retailers are hoping]( (paywall) high consumer confidence and low unemployment will get the all-important holiday season off to a good start. Sponsor content by Citrix Work has gone beyond office walls as an ever-growing number of jobs are done offsite. This location flexibility is great for businesses and employees, but can work really be conducted smoothly and securely from anywhere? This interactive shows how to create safe and secure [IT solutions for an increasingly distributed workforce](. While you were sleeping Gunmen stormed a Chinese consulate in Karachi. Two civilians, two policemen, and the three gunmen who attacked the consulate in the Pakistani city [were killed]( in a shootout. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it opposes Chinese exploitation of natural resources in the country’s southwest. Nissan wants to change the power structure of its alliance with Renault. After [removing Carlos Ghosn as its chairman]( over financial misconduct allegations yesterday, the Japanese carmaker is pushing for more equality in the [shareholding structure of the Renault-Nissan alliance]( (paywall). Despite being the smaller company, Renault has more shares (and voting shares) in the partnership. Oil prices hit their lowest in a year. Jitters over a slowdown in global growth and a supply glut [drove Brent down]( (paywall) 1.7% to $61.52 in early London trading—its lowest level since early December 2017, and a 30% drop since October. OPEC may announce a production cut at its next meeting, which could help push prices back up. Another big retailer dropped Dolce & Gabbana. Hong Kong department store Lane Crawford won’t stock the Italian brand, amid a [huge backlash over ads]( for its Shanghai fashion show, which stereotyped Chinese people. Net-a-Porter, Alibaba, and JD.com are among the [online retailers]( that have boycotted the brand. The US wants allies to not use Huawei products. According to the [Wall Street Journal]( (paywall), Washington has asked governments and telecom providers in countries including Germany and Japan to avoid Huawei equipment over cybersecurity risks. The Chinese firm is believed to have close ties to the government in Beijing, raising fears that its gear could be used for espionage. Obsession interlude Turkey breeding. This week Donald Trump took part in one of the stranger US political traditions: issuing a pardon to a turkey ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Millions of others weren’t so lucky. There’s a complex and fascinating supply chain that makes that possible: Nearly every single turkey that Americans eat is the product of artificial insemination. [Read more here with the Quartz Obsession.]( Conversation starter “Tech disruption is sweeping through all countries and all sectors, regardless of income or level of development. We need to be agile to harness the opportunity so tech accelerates our progress to #endpoverty.” —[Kristalina Georgieva]( CEO at the World Bank, on “[Investment platforms vie to capture a share of global remittances]( Surprising discoveries The Leaning Tower of Pisa is leaning less. A monitoring group says that a natural realignment has taken “[two centuries]( off the 800-year-old tower’s slant. Trump’s campaign is still spending millions on MAGA merch. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. [paid Ace Specialties]( and other suppliers over $3 million in the first nine months of 2018. Russians are happier. Healthy living is [replacing alcohol]( (paywall) and curbing the country’s male suicide rate. We’re better at remembering people than we think. When we forget someone’s name, we [have already recognized]( their face using a different type of memory. New Zealand’s North and South islands are edging closer together. Fault lines from the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake have brought Cape Campbell at the top of the South Island [35cm closer]( to Wellington. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ethical turkeys, and Russian fitness routines to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by [downloading our new app]( and [becoming a member](. 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