Singapore’s new leadership, Ghosn’s exit, power shoes

Good morning, Quartz readers!

What to watch for today and over the weekend

Singapore’s ruling party picks new leadership. The People’s Action Party is expected to name finance minister Heng Swee Keat as its first assistant secretary general on Friday, positioning him to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as the country’s next prime minister.

Taiwan goes to the polls. Saturday’s midterm election includes referendums on same-sex marriage, which has seen voters flooded with anti-LGBT messages. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party faces a tough fight, the outcome of which will have implications for the 2020 presidential race.

The US gets a climate update. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest climate assessment is expected to focus on the impact of climate change on health and infrastructure. The release of the several hundred-page report on a US holiday 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 provide a healthy kickstart to the all-important holiday season.

While you were sleeping

Nissan ousted Carlos Ghosn. The chairman was sacked by the carmaker’s board following his arrest on Monday for alleged financial misconduct. He remains CEO of Renault, pending the investigation. Japan and France’s economy ministers met in Paris today to discuss the long-standing Nissan-Renault alliance, which employs around 470,000 people.

The UK and EU took another step towards Brexit. Britain’s prime minister Theresa May and negotiators in Brussels said they had agreed on a draft “political declaration” for the UK and EU’s future ties. The declaration and draft Brexit agreement will now go on to be ratified—or not—by EU leaders on Sunday, before being put to a fractured UK parliament for a vote.

The US snubbed Chinese researchers. The US embassy in Beijing has revoked the 10-year multiple-entry visas given to some academics specializing in US-China relations, suggesting a tightening in controls between the two countries.

The EU rebuked Turkey over freedom of speech. In a tense Ankara press conference, officials said they were troubled by Turkey’s arrests of journalists, academics, and human rights defenders. Turkey is high on a list of countries that aspire to join the EU.

Donald Trump said a trade deal is possible. The US president told reporters in Florida that China “wants a deal” because of the tariff war that Trump instigated between the two countries, and that when he meets Chinese premier Xi Jinping at the G20 in Argentina next week, “if we can make a deal, we will.”

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 group that monitors the monument says that a natural realignment has taken “two centuries” off the 800-year-old tower’s slant.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shoes are fashion history. The congresswoman-elect’s worn-out campaign kicks will feature in the exhibition “Women Empowered: Fashions from the Frontline.”

Russians have become much happier. Healthy living is replacing alcohol (paywall) and curbing the country’s male suicide rate.

Amazon will deliver by fishing boat in India. The company is going to extraordinary lengths in its bid to dominate one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets.

Japan wants to pay people to leave Tokyo. The government is mulling a proposal that would give people 3 million yen ($27,000) if they find jobs elsewhere.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, historic shoes, and generous relocation packages to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our new app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Cassie Werber and Jackie Bischof.