US agencies reopen, France’s red scarves, Tesla police cars

US government agencies reopen—for now. The first order of business as US agencies resume operations thanks to a temporary reprieve Friday will be getting checks to the 800,000 federal workers who went unpaid during the 35-day standoff. Lawmakers have until Feb. 15 to work out a longer-term deal, with Donald Trump already signaling that he won’t back down on his border-wall funding. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today US government agencies reopen—for now. The first order of business as [US agencies resume operations]( thanks to [a temporary reprieve Friday]( will be getting checks to the 800,000 federal workers who went unpaid during the 35-day standoff. Lawmakers have until Feb. 15 to work out a longer-term deal, with Donald Trump already [signaling that he won’t back down]( on his border-wall funding. A Chinese trade delegation visits Washington, DC. A group of commerce and finance ministers headed by vice premier Liu He reportedly begins [arriving in Washington today]( (paywall) for talks with a US team led by trade representative Robert Lighthizer that start on Wednesday (Jan. 30). The two sides will try to end the trade war before a March 1 deadline for the US to increase tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods. Saudi Arabia shares details on a $425 billion infrastructure plan. The Middle East’s largest nation by area is [seeking massive investments]( in railways, airports, and industrial projects as it tries to become less reliant on oil. About 70 deals [could be announced]( (paywall). Europe discusses how to bypass Trump’s Iran sanctions. [According to a Bloomberg report]( (paywall), the UK, France, and Germany will propose creating a special entity so businesses that want to keep trading with Iran can avoid [penalties re-imposed by the US]( (paywall) last year. Meanwhile, [Trump warned Europeans]( against their efforts. Sponsor content by Deloitte Some business leaders are struggling to respond to Industry 4.0. These leaders aren’t. By addressing key developments in strategy, technology, societal impact, and talent, the best business leaders are ensuring that their organizations will succeed in the age of Industry 4.0. [Learn more](. Over the weekend Canada fired its China ambassador. A political furor erupted after John McCallum told Chinese reporters that Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, arrested last month in Vancouver on suspicion of violating US sanctions against Iran, could cite political interference [to defend against extradition to the US](. On Friday, he said it would be “[great for Canada]( (paywall) if the US drops its extradition request. His [resignation was announced Saturday](. The former CEO of Starbucks talked about his possible 2020 run. Howard Schultz said on CBS’ 60 Minutes he’s exploring running [as a “centrist independent”]( since both the Democrats and the Republicans are focused on “revenge politics.” Democrats say a viable-seeming independent could help president Donald Trump win re-election by siphoning votes from their candidate. Brazil’s mining-dam tragedy worsened. [At least 58 people]( were killed when a dam at a mining complex in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais [burst on Friday](. Rescue efforts resumed for hundreds of people still missing after being [temporarily suspended]( Sunday over fears a second dam could collapse. Nicolás Maduro rejected international calls for early elections. The Venezuelan president said on Sunday that “[nobody can give us an ultimatum]( after European nations threatened to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who last week declared himself interim president, unless new elections are announced. Venezuela’s top military envoy to the US [declared his allegiance to Guaidó]( who has Washington’s support. Explosions at a Philippines cathedral left at least 20 dead. Two bombs went off Sunday at a Roman Catholic cathedral on the southern island of Jolo, one in or near the church during services, and the other as soldiers hurried to respond. ISIS [claimed responsibility]( for the attack, which also injured over 100 people. More than 10,000 foulards rouges marched against the gilets jaunes in Paris. Sunday’s peaceful demonstration, led by a movement known as the “[red scarves]( aimed to give voice to French citizens who are fed up with weeks of unrest and violence caused by the so-called “yellow vests” and want a return to normal life. Nissan is reportedly cooperating with a SEC inquiry. The [US agency is said to be looking]( into how the Japanese automaker reports executive pay. Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested in November in Japan for [under-reporting his earnings]( (paywall) by at least $80 million. The company saw its shares drop on Tokyo’s Nikkei stock exchange following the news. Tens of thousands of Belgians took to the streets. More than 70,000 demonstrators on Sunday [called on Belgian and European leaders]( to take more action against climate change, ahead of national and bloc elections in May. The protest was the fourth in two months to attract more than 10,000 people. Quartz obsession interlude Climate change could mean it’s all downhill from here for skiing. The forecast for the 21st century is grim: Some of the world’s most popular ski resorts may stop seeing snowfall altogether, while others see their seasons shrink significantly. [Read more in the Quartz Obsession](. Quartz membership For a long time, much of the developed world could think water scarcity was only an issue in another part of the globe, but climate change and population growth are bringing water problems to every country. This week, we look at some of the people dedicating themselves to the global challenge. But first, our [state of play memo]( today examines why and where water is becoming a precious resource. Matters of debate [Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!]( Doctors with nice bedside manners are more effective. Even brief reassurances may [relieve patient symptoms faster](. The Super Bowl halftime show is no longer a cultural institution. The NFL [has become too toxic]( to social-justice-minded artists and their fans. The era of “move fast and break things” is over for tech startups. “Minimum viable products” [must be replaced by]( “minimum virtuous products” that consider and address social risks. Message from our Partner Find a better way to work at Camp David. Spanning three floors and 50,000 square feet of Brooklyn's bustling Industry City, Camp David rethinks what a co-working space should be: a mindfully-designed, collaborative environment for creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses. Book your next company off-site or tour our offices [today](. Surprising discoveries NASA made airliners safer by blowing one up in 1984. A YouTube video shows the [unique, fiery destruction]( of the decommissioned Boeing 720. Researchers found 3,000-year-old quinoa seeds in Ontario. The discovery sheds new light on the [vast trading system]( that existed in North America thousands of years ago. The Tesla Model S is now a scary-looking police car. Police departments in Los Angeles and Denver have [added it to their fleets](. Preschoolers already show signs of racial bias. They [pick up on cues]( from the adults around them, research suggests. The Vatican Swiss Guard’s new headgear is 3D printed. The [thermoplastic helmets]( aim to keep the Pope’s protectors cool. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ancient quinoa recipes, and virtuous products to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by [downloading our app]( and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( If you click a link to an e-commerce site and make a purchase, we may receive a small cut of the revenue, which helps support our ambitious journalism. See [here]( for more information. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.