Quartz Daily Brief—Europe edition—Cameron’s migrant crackdown, Ferguson Thanksgiving protests, OPEC cuts blocked, Sriracha beer

What to watch for today

David Cameron tests the EU’s limits. The UK prime minister wants to make EU migrants ineligible for welfare and housing benefits for their first four years in the UK. The proposed legislation, introduced as the anti-immigration UK Independence Party attracts more popular support, may threaten the UK’s position within the EU.

Egypt braces for massive Islamist protests. The ultraconservative Salafi Front has called for a “Muslim youth uprising” after dawn prayers on Friday. Government is deploying security forces in riot gear and armored vehicles.

Black Friday goes global… The holiday shopping frenzy that has traditionally started the day after Thanksgiving in the US is now catching on around the world, from Costa Rica to the UK. In France, retailers are offering promotions and discounts for “Le Black Friday.”

…As civil rights activists urge a shopping boycott. Using the hashtags such as #BlackOutBlackFriday and #NotOneDime, protesters have taken to  Twitter to express their outrage over a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager earlier this year.

Star Wars fans queue up for a trailer. Thousands are expected to flock to the 30 theaters that will run a clip of Walt Disney’s Stars Wars: The Force Awakens over the long holiday weekend. Director J.J. Abrams alerted fans to the planned release on Twitter earlier this week.

While you were sleeping

The Saudis kiboshed oil production cuts. OPEC members Iran and Venezuela wanted to pump less oil in order to reverse a steep decline in prices, but Saudi Arabia and the wealthy Gulf states—who are able to ride out the weak prices—blocked the move. “It was a great decision,” said Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, as oil prices fell even further.

Ferguson protestors tried to disrupt Thanksgiving. At least seven demonstrators were detained in New York City after they knocked down  barriers near the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and tried to obstruct the parade route. Between 50 and 100 protestors gathered peacefully early in the day to protest police brutality in both Ferguson and New York.

A Nigerian bomb attack killed at least 40. No group has taken responsibility for targeting a village bus station near the city of Mubi, but the area has been regularly singled out by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. The Nigerian army and the militants have been battling for control of the area for several weeks.

Mexico’s president vowed to reform the police. Enrique Pena Nieto said all local police forces would come under federal control, in response to the disappearance of 43 students, which were allegedly killed by police forces working with gang members. The reforms also grant Congress the power to dissolve local governments infiltrated by drugs cartels.

Shinzo Abe failed to deliver on Japan’s core metrics. Retail sales fell 1.4% in October, worse than a predicted fall of 0.5%, while inflation—minus the effect of April’s tax rise—grew at its slowest pace in 13 months (paywall). Japan’s prime minister Abe made increasing inflation a central goal, but he is struggling to achieve results ahead of a snap election in December.

The Netherlands took 122 tons (111 tonnes) of gold out of the United States. The Dutch central bank said the transfer of the precious metal worth about 4 billion euros ($5 billion) may have a “positive confidence effect with the public.”

Quartz obsession interlude

Steve Levine on the flailing of countries in the OPEC cartel. “In a way, the message of OPEC’s inaction today—deciding not to cut supply—is analogous to the challenge that confronted GM and Microsoft in recent years: if it wants to remain relevant in a world it once dominated, and at times made tremble, it needs to change its game.” Read more here.

Matters of debate

Social media stars aren’t “regular folks.” Everything you see is heavily scripted.

US policemen should listen to USAID. The US agency that preaches about responsible policing abroad is sorely needed at home.

“Eating local” misses the point. Instead, buy food that’s raised sustainably and ethically, wherever on Earth it comes from.

Bill Cosby is no laughing matter. This is no time to make jokes about the comedian—even if you’re a comedian.

Surprising discoveries

The word “apron” used to be “napron.” People misheard “an apron,” and the new name stuck.

Thanksgiving dinner in space took 18 months to prepare. The turkey was irradiated, and the yams were thermostabilized.

A Chinese clothing store banned Chinese customers. An employee at the Beijing shop said they were “too annoying.”

Now is the time to buy your Christmas tree. Timing matters.

Sriracha beer will soon be a thing. Maybe even in time for Christmas.

Click here for more surprising discoveries on Quartz.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, space turkey, and hot-sauce beer to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.

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Quartz Daily Brief—Europe edition—Cameron’s migrant crackdown, Ferguson Thanksgiving protests, OPEC cuts blocked, Sriracha beer