The Evening: A devastating Myanmar earthquake

Also, JD Vance went to Greenland, a place that didn't want him.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 28, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. A major earthquake in Myanmar Vance's visit to Greenland Plus, "The Great Gatsby" at 100 A collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A powerful earthquake devastated Myanmar A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar today and wrought destruction across a vast expanse of Southeast Asia. The quake — one of the three largest to hit the region in a century — gouged open roads, toppled century-old religious monuments and destroyed many multistory buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks seismic activity, estimated that the death toll was likely to surpass 10,000 people, and that there was a possibility of a much higher toll. A preliminary count from Myanmar's military government said that at least 144 people had been killed and 732 injured in just three cities. That did not include Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, which is just 10 miles from the epicenter. Photos and videos from the country showed stunning scenes of destruction. A giant metal bridge near Mandalay partially collapsed into the river. Monks cried out as a monastery building toppled over. And patients at Mandalay General Hospital laid on the concrete in the 100-degree heat. The quake was strong enough to level a 33-story building that was under construction more than 600 miles away in Bangkok, in neighboring Thailand. At least eight people died there, the authorities said. Here's a map of the affected area. The full extent of the devastation was hard to assess in a country that has largely been isolated from the rest of the world. Electricity and communication lines were down. Myanmar's ruling junta, which is under heavy U.S. sanctions, made an extraordinary plea for international assistance. President Trump promised that the U.S. would help, and the U.N. set aside initial relief funds. President Trump at the White House today.  Kenny Holston/The New York Times The legal world is split over Trump's attacks Trump announced today that he had made a deal with the elite law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The firm agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono work on issues that Trump supported. The deal was an effort to avoid the kind of punishing executive orders that the president recently imposed on firms that employed lawyers whom he perceived as enemies. Other firms have decided to fight back. Today, two big firms sued the Trump administration, seeking to stop executive orders that could significantly harm their businesses. The firms, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, had previously employed lawyers who investigated Trump's ties to Russia. Vice President JD Vance, center, in Greenland today. Pool photo by Jim Watson Vance went to Greenland, a place that didn't want him Vice President JD Vance, his wife, Usha, and a couple other top U.S. officials spent roughly three hours today in Greenland, a territory of Denmark that Trump has vowed to acquire "one way or the other." He found the weather, and the reception, chilly. The trip was significantly scaled back after the island's government blasted the trip as "highly aggressive" and residents geared up to protest. Instead, the entire visit unfolded at one of the most remote military installations in the world — far from any town, or any chance of an embarrassing TV moment. In other politics news: The Trump administration moved to eliminate U.S.A.I.D. in all but name. The agency had employed about 10,000 people; just 15 will remain. The administration asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants with little to no due process. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, said states can bar recipients of federal food assistance from using the money to pay for soft drinks. Trump toned down his rhetoric about Canada during his first call with its new leader. He promised to begin trade negotiations. Trump pardoned the founder of Nikola, a bankrupt electric truck maker who was convicted of securities fraud. Trump moved to curb the independence of the Smithsonian in how it presents history, calling on it to promote "American greatness." Elon Musk walked back part of a legally questionable plan to pay conservative voters. We fact-checked Musk's claims about government spending. Jim Cole/Associated Press Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water Utah's governor signed a bill this week to outlaw the addition of fluoride to public drinking water — the first of its kind. Several other states are considering similar bans in the months after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the health secretary, said the Trump administration would advise all states to remove fluoride from public water. Since 1945, fluoride has been added to U.S. drinking water to prevent cavities. Research suggests it has improved oral health. But the mineral has come under renewed scrutiny, as studies have linked extremely high levels of fluoride exposure — more than twice as high as people are generally exposed to through community fluoridation — with lower childhood I.Q.s. More top news Ukraine: After losing much of the ground it gained in a previous incursion into Russia, Kyiv appears to have staged another cross-border push, this time into the Belgorod region. Economy: Ahead of Trump's escalating trade war, new data indicates that inflation remained sticky in February. The S&P 500 fell 2 percent. Business: Charlie Javice was found guilty of fraud after she was accused of lying about her startup before selling it for $175 million to JPMorgan. Middle East: For the first time since the cease-fire began, Israel launched strikes near Beirut, shattering the tense calm in Lebanon's capital. Lithuania: A recovery effort continued for four U.S. soldiers, whose military vehicle sank into a muddy bog near Belarus on Tuesday. Vatican: Pope Francis came near death during his illness. "It was a miracle that he left the hospital," his doctor said. Britain: One of the biggest corporate donors to the populist Reform U.K. party has sold almost $2 million worth of military equipment to a Russian army supplier. U.K.: The environmental activist group Just Stop Oil said it was moving away from its attention-grabbing protests, which included throwing tomato soup at famous artworks. Broadway: The powerful producer Scott Rudin was exiled from entertainment after accusations of bullying. After "a decent amount of therapy," he says he's ready to return. TIME TO UNWIND The New York Times We're living in Gatsby's world This year marks a century since the publication of "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald's slender novel about a mysterious, lovelorn millionaire living and dying in a Long Island mansion. The book is among the most widely read, and it has inspired countless interpretations — from high school papers to feature films, and everything in between. Our critic A.O. Scott looked back at some of the more striking and improbable Gatsbys of the past 100 years, and what they tell us about ourselves. Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger host the "Who? Weekly" podcast. Brian Karlsson for The New York Times What makes someone famous these days? As internet and social media culture have seeped into the mainstream, ideas about who's a celebrity and who's not have blurred. "Everyone has at least a thousand hard-core fans," the pop culture journalist Lindsey Weber said. "You don't even have to be that famous to have a dedicated audience." On Weber's podcast "Who? Weekly," she and her co-host, Bobby Finger, categorize people into two categories: "who" for sweatily grasping would-be stars and "them" for bona fide celebrity names. It's not always ease to differentiate. Adali Schell for The New York Times Dinner table topics 1970s Hollywood: Candy Clark took Polaroids of famous faces. Then she put them in a drawer for 50 years. A dozen will do: After fasting for Ramadan, some Muslims say doughnuts are a must. Millennial star: After breaking out on Disney Channel, Sofia Carson became Netflix's go-to streaming star. Expert endorsed: Skipping feels like play, but it can be a surprisingly good workout. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Boost your weekend with this peach upside-down cake. Watch: "The Ballad of Wallis Island" came together after a long wait and a help from Carey Mulligan. Read: Our critic recommended "Fagin the Thief" and three other new historical novels. File: Tax returns are due in a couple weeks. We have some last-minute tips. Gaze: If you're on the East Coast, check out the partial solar eclipse tomorrow. Repair: Here's how to fix your squeaky wood floors. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING This photo might make you feel gigil. Getty Images Overwhelmed by cuteness? There's a word for that. The golden retriever puppy pictured above can make some people feel gigil — a Tagalog word for the intense feeling of witnessing something adorable. The word (pronounced ghee-gill) was added this week to the Oxford English Dictionary, along with 41 other so-called untranslatable terms from languages around the world. Have a verbose weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Kirsten Luce was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018