s
wn ts Dental Cro
Dental Implan
Ceramic Crowns Bridges es Sem-Clear Brac es ac Br d Spee Invisalign ry General Dentist s tic on od th Or Implants ning Cosmetic White
t
en Braces Treatm Providing Fast
TATION FREE CONSUL
, Dr. R. Sidhu titioner
General Dental Prac
DDS
604 543 5060
y 0th Street, Surre
#215 - 7110, 12
VOL 25 - ISSUE 43
Your grocery bill in Canada will jump by nearly $1,000 in 2026
Canada’s food experts predict the average family of four in Ontario will spend close to $1,000 more on groceries next year, thanks to food inflation. And according to Canada’s Food Price Report 2026, price increases are just one of the changes shoppers can expect to see in the store aisles next year. “Prices are going up faster than inflation,” Evan Fraser, Guelph University’s Arrell Food Institute director, told Metroland Media. “Prices are going up faster than wages. And in the context of unbelievably high rent, skipping on food, skimping on food, going to food banks — these sort of strategies are one of the few ways open to a family to address household budgets.” Inflation raises prices In the report, researchers with Dalhousie Agri-food Analytics Lab said overall food prices are likely to increase by four to six per cent in 2026. For a family of four, it means they are expected to spend $17,571.79 on groceries next year — which includes $994.63 more than what they spent this year on the same goods. Continued on Page 10...
www.theasianstar.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025
Indian couple trolled over skin colour after wedding video goes viral
Rishabh Rajput and Sonali Chouksey met in college 11 years ago, fell in love and married last month. Photos and videos from their colourful wedding showed the happy couple from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh performing rituals and posing in their finery. But when they shared their happiest moment on social media, the congratulatory messages came peppered with "jokes and memes" with trolls comparing and criticising the couple over the groom's skin colour. In India, where obsession with fair skin colour is well documented and can sometimes even have tragic consequences, the groom faced intense online shaming and was called names for his "darker skin colour". The trolls did not spare the bride either, with many suggesting she had married him "for his money". Continued on Page 14...
TEL: 604-591-5423
Sikh groups host extortion town hall in Brampton
A coalition of Sikh organizations is demanding action on what they’re calling an unprecedented wave of extortion crime targeting Sikh families and businesses in Brampton and beyond. The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), the Sikh Federation, the B.C. Gurdwaras Council and the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee hosted a town hall meeting Dec. 7 with police, politicians and community members in Brampton to confront the threat and bring attention to the issue. A second town hall is scheduled to be held in Calgary on Dec. 13, while a third is slated for Surrey, B.C., the following day. The Brampton town hall, titled “Confronting the Threat: Continued on Page 10...
SABA celebrates Christmas at Northview Golf Club
Why Putin's visit is a masterclass in India's foreign policy
South Asian Business Association members and directors celebrated Christmas with their family and friends at the beautiful Northview Golf Club. The evening was filled with holiday cheer, laughter, and togetherness, as the group enjoyed a night of good company and seasonal spirit. The event was marked by elegant decorations, a warm atmosphere, and joyful moments shared among loved ones. It was a memorable celebration that brought the SABA family closer together during this special time of year.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit is more than a routine diplomatic engagement; it is a powerful signal of continuity in a fracturing world. Continued on Page 15...
Gaba Tire
ALL TIRES AVAILABLE (AS, AT MT & SEMI TRUCK)
WHOLESALE TIRES Installation Available
ABBOTSFORD
31324 - 107 Peardonville Rd 604-897-3235 604-746-4222
KAMLOOPS
133 Wilson Street 250-572-5444