In the news today: Trump rattles NATO, Oil refinery fire, Lightning zaps Canucks

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed …

Experts say Canada can’t avoid engaging with U.S. as Trump rattles NATO with insults

U.S. President Donald Trump is widening the cracks between the United States and European NATO members with his calls for allies to help him finish the war he started with Iran.

Trump has claimed repeatedly that he’s not convinced NATO members would be there for the United States if it needed help and has suggested the war in Iran is a test of NATO’s commitment.

University of Toronto International Relations Professor Aurel Braun says Trump has insulted and disparaged members of the long-standing defence alliance, eliciting responses from NATO partners that are driven by a sense of anger.

Braun says Trump’s demeaning tone, and the resulting response from other countries, make it difficult for NATO members to see the international picture clearly and set strategy.

Iran hits Kuwaiti oil refinery and explosions boom over Tehran from Israeli attack

A Kuwaiti oil refinery came under Iranian drone attack early Friday and sirens in Israel warned of incoming fire, while explosions boomed over Tehran from Israeli strikes.

Kuwait said two waves of drone strikes at its Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery, one of the country’s three oil refineries, sparked a fire and crews were working to control the blaze.

Iran stepped up its attacks on energy sites in Gulf Arab states after Israel on Wednesday bombed Iran’s massive South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf.

Heavy explosions also shook Dubai as air defences intercepted early incoming fire over the city, where people were observing Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Ontario to miss federal deadline for publicly funding nurse practitioners

Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones pushed the federal government years ago to close what she called a loophole in the Canada Health Act that allowed some nurse practitioner clinics to charge patients fees for primary care.

The government has now done that, and provinces won’t start incurring penalties for non-compliance until April 2027, but critics and nurse practitioners say Ontario should not wait.

Michelle Acorn, C-E-O of the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario, says having flexible funding mechanisms will help them deliver timely, high-quality care.

If you changed jobs last year, here’s how it might affect your taxes

Landing a new job or being laid off from your current position can be life-changing — but months after the dust settles, people often forget that job changes can also impact that year’s tax return.

Getting a new job with a pay raise could bump you into a higher tax bracket, so you might want to consider ways to lower your tax bill.

Chartered professional accountant Stefanie Ricchio says when you change jobs, there’s a risk you could end up over-contributing to those government safety nets — meaning you’ll get a refund on your tax return.

And for workers who have been laid off, they are usually offered severance, which is considered income.

Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli lead Tampa Bay Lightning past Vancouver Canucks 6-2

Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli each had a goal and two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday at Rogers Arena.

Kucherov’s three-point night moved him into sole possession of second place in the NHL scoring race.

Vancouver allowed six goals or more for the ninth time this season.

The Lightning visit the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, while the Canucks play host to the St. Louis Blues.


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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2026.

The Canadian Press