THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016

Between ‘action and cut’, medium doesn’t matter: Sakshi Tanwar

CAMPUS | 3 COMMUNITY | 6 BOLLYWOOD | 11CGC organises blood donation

camp

DON’T TAKE THESE ITEMS TO THE

Shop unwisely and that giant tin of caviar becomes a gift to the Fish and Wildlife Service

department in the US.

P | 4-5

Email: dohatoday@pen.com.qa

nd n’t

nwar

11

US

Bangladesh MHM School & College celebrates

45th Victory Day

CAMPUSTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 03

Sports Day celebration at Noor Al Khaleej International School

Bangladesh MHM School & College celebrates 45th Victory Day

Noor Al Khaleej International School celebrated its 15th Annual Athletic/Sports Day on December 10. The programme began with spectac-ular school band and march past display followed by the oath taking ceremony. The students displayed a wide variety of activities like skill races, drills, relays and a captivating gymnastic performances. Participation of parents and teachers in various events thrilled the

audience. The efforts of the students and the staff for making the event a huge success were appreciated by one and all present on this occasion.

Bangladesh MHM School and College celebrated its 45th Victory Day of Bangladesh with great patriotic zeal. The day-long functions, organised at the School premises on December 16,

paid tribute to the freedom fighters who laid their lives in the War of liberation in 1971. The institu-tion also arranged drawing competition for children, Essay writing Competition and Friendly

Volleyball match for other students. Prizes were distributed among the winners.

Ashud Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar and Chairman of the institution, hoisted the national flag followed by national anthem in a special assembly. Embassy officials, ad-hoc committee members, PTA members, principal, vice-principal, teachers and students were present.

In his welcome address, Principal Md Jshim

Uddin spoke about the significance of the Victory Day. In his speech the ambassador highlighted the importance of the glorious history of Bangladesh.

The celebration concluded with a vibrant cul-tural programme in the evening. The songs, dances, poem recitations, short drama highlight-ing our history, tradition, and culture enchanted the audience.

COVER STORY THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 201604

Andrea Sachs

The Washington Post

Obviously, that carved rhino horn for sale at a foreign marketplace should not travel to the US with you. Nor should the leopard skin, the narwhal tusk and the whale meat.

But what about the queen conch from your Car-ibbean holiday or the caviar from the London airport duty-free shop? Not so obvious, is it?

Travelers - and that special subgroup of shoppers who travel - need know which wild-life items are permitted into the States and which ones are banned. The exotic animal test is unre-liable. Many less toothy animals, birds, reptiles, plants, fish and shells are legally protected. Choose your souvenirs unwisely and the US Fish and Wildlife Service could confiscate your pur-chases upon your return.

The issue has implications beyond simply wasting money. Wildlife trafficking threatens the sustainability and survival of hundreds of species worldwide. Many nefarious individuals and groups, such as poachers, corrupt govern-ment officials and organized crime syndicates, benefit from these illegal sales. Buying that $4

tortoise ring doesn’t seem so innocent anymore.

“There is no way the general consumer has any way of knowing how it was obtained,” said Ann-Marie Holmes, a senior wildlife inspector with the agency.

An array of state, federal and international laws regulates the wildlife trade. One of the most prominent accords is the Convention on Inter-national Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which counts nearly every country as a member. Species listed under CITES Appendix I are the most at-risk, and the treaty has placed a near-total ban on commer-cial goods exploiting these animals. Members of this club include sea turtles, cheetahs, tigers and black rhinos.

There is more wiggle room with species cat-egorized under Appendix II and Appendix III, as long as the traveler obtains the proper permit or certificate. For instance, under the personal baggage exemption rule, you can carry a “rea-sonable” amount of an item. But some species are not eligible for this exemption and not all countries recognize it.

Wildlife protection experts advise travelers to familiarize themselves with the laws before upcoming trips. Start with the service’s “Traveling

to the Caribbean” and “Tips for Travelers,” and the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s

“Stopping the Illegal Wildlife Trade.” Sample advise: Under the heading “Please Don’t Buy,” IFAW urges people to avoid handbags, shoes, watch straps and belts made of reptile skins. For any lingering questions, contact the Fish and Wildlife Service office at your return port.

Of course, much of the thrill of shopping involves spontaneous discoveries. Before you departed for Australia, you probably didn’t know how great the Crocodile Dundee hat would look on your head. Reputable retailers should know the legal status and origin of the wildlife items they are selling and provide you with a docu-ment to present at customs. Unfortunately, employees might not always be well-versed in the laws governing their clothing, crafts or jew-ellery. But that won’t stop them from attaching a price tag to the object.

“Just because it’s for sale,” Holmes said, “doesn’t mean it’s legal.”

To avoid the risk, the agent offers a simple solution: “Don’t buy wildlife. Buy a magnet, buy a T-shirt.”

To learn from other travelers’ mistakes, here are some examples of banned items that are now the property of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

souvenirs US govt could confiscate

8

COVER STORYTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 05

Crocodile Dundee leather hat with

saltwater crocodile hide and teeth

Where you can buy it: AustraliaWhy it is regulated: All crocodile species fall

under CITES I or II; some species are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Threats include illegal hunting, inter-national trade in skins and habitat loss.

When it is permitted: Personal baggage exemption

Hermès Birkin bag made of Ameri-

can alligator hide

Where you can buy it: Paris, Milan, London and other cities with a luxury retail market

Why it is regulated: CITES II. Threats include hunting, illegal trade, habitat loss and pollution.

When it is permitted: Personal baggage exemption

Queen conch shell

Where you can buy it: Caribbean, Latin America

Why it is regulated: CITES II. Threatened from overfishing for conch meat and bait and the sale of shells in the tourist trade

When it is permitted: Personal baggage exemption for up to three shells

Hair accessory carved from hawks-

bill shell and taxidermic hawksbill

Where you can buy it: Mexico, Caribbean,

Latin America, Asia, AfricaWhy it is regulated: All sea turtle species are

listed under CITES I and are considered threat-ened or endangered under the ESA. Threats include illegal trade in meat, eggs and skins, hab-itat loss, pollution, and tourists and lights disturbing nesting habitats.

When it is permitted: Items certified as “pre-convention” (predates the CITES listing) may be eligible for CITES permits. Items certified as “pre-act” (before ESA listing) or antique items (older than 100 years) may be exempt.

Shahtoosh/ring shawl made of

Tibetan antelope hair

Where you can buy it: India, Switzerland and high-end stores in fashion capitals. If you can pull the fine wool scarf through a ring, it is likely

a shahtoosh, not a pashmina.Why it is regulated: CITES I; endangered

under the ESA. Threats include poaching for the animals’ shorter guard-hairs.

When it is permitted: Same requirements as sea turtles

Caviar from sturgeon or paddlefish

Where you can buy it: Airport duty-free shops, global gourmet food markets

Why it is regulated: All sturgeon and paddle-fish species are categorized as CITES I or II, and some species are listed as threatened or endan-gered under the ESA. Threats include overfishing for meat and roe for the caviar trade, habitat loss and pollution. The illegal caviar trade is often associated with transnational organized crime.

When it is permitted: Personal baggage exemption for up to 125 grams (small tin), unless derived from species banned under the ESA

Drum head made of monitor lizard

skin and decorated with cowrie

shells

Where you can buy it: Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, sub-Saharan Africa

Why it is regulated: All monitor lizard spe-cies fall under CITES II. Threats include the live pet trade, harvesting for meat and skins, and habitat loss.

When it is permitted: Personal baggage exemption

Red coral necklace

Where you can buy it: Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Pacific islands, Asia

Why it is regulated: CITES III. Threats include overharvesting for the aquarium and jewelry trade, illegal collection or destruction by recre-ational divers, habitat degradation, rising ocean temperatures and pollution. When it is permit-ted: Personal baggage exemption.

COMMUNITY THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 201606

The Human Rights Club at Qatar University College of Law (QU-LAWC) recently organised an exhibition and a lecture to

mark the Human Rights Day.The event aims to raise aware-

ness on and promote the practice of human rights among students. Attendees included LAWC associate deans for Academic Affairs Dr Yasser Al-Khalaileh, for Research Dr Faowzi Belknani, and for Outreach and Com-munity Engagement Dr Yassin El-Shazli, as well as LAWC students.

The lecture was presented by 2 LAWC students on the current

situation of human rights in the Arab world. The exhibition included five booths entitled “the right of fair trial”,

“the right of life”, “women’s rights”, “children’s rights”, and “Qatar’s role in human rights protection”.

They were presented by students Rana Al Basheer, Mehta Al-Nuaimi, Noora AlRumaihi, Ghada AlOtaibi, Rehana Khowe, Enam Irqsosi, Bash-eer AlAhbabi, Metha Aljaber, Nour Ibraheem, Bashayer Alahbabi, and Sheekha AlKubaisi.

Commenting on the event, LAWC Dean Dr Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulafi said: “In light of the belief of LAWC in the core role of higher

legal education in the improvement of the community, there is a neces-sity to focus on issues related to human rights. In this context, the col-lege established the Human Rights

Club to raise awareness on the impor-tance of preserving human rights and to develop the laws and regulations which are related to these rights in the Arab world.”

CGC organises blood donation camp

Consolidated Gulf Company, CGC, organised a blood donation camp as part of its social initiatives.The event was held recently at CGC office in Doha in association with Hamad Medical Cor-

poration (HMC). CGC staff turned up in good numbers to support the noble efforts

resulting in more than 30 successful donors. Haitham Ahmad, General Manager, CGC, thanked HMC for their

support for successfully hosting another blood donation campaign.

CGC also presented certificate of appreciation to the donors in recognition of their support for the social cause.

Qatar University College of

Law marks Human Rights Day

Indian Cultural Center (ICC) con-ducted the award ceremony for the champions and participants

of the ICC Chess Championship held at ICC Ashoka Hall.

Ritu Kumaran, wife of Ambas-sador of India to Qatar, P Kumaran, was the Chief Guest of the evening. K S Dhiman, Second Secretary at Indian Embassy and Coordinating Officer of ICC, was Guest of Honor.

Chief guest and the ICC man-aging committee appreciated the efforts of Chess Master Jaise Joseph, who has been teaching over 100 students and prepared them for the championship, and awarded him with a memento.

The meeting was presided by ICC president Milan Arun. ICC General Secretary Juttas Paul wel-comed the gathering and ICC managing committee member K S Prasad proposed the vote of thanks.

The meeting began with a

Karate demonstration for audi-ence by the Karate Master Ashraf and Jaleel leading a group of karate students.

Seven students from ICC Chess championship panel are represent-ing ICC at the CBSE chess c h a m p i o n s h i p i n I n d i a ,

which is currently in progress. Amulya Guruprasad from Qatar has reached the final round of the championship.

Chief guest and guest of honour distributed trophies and certificates to winners and participants. The program was coordinated by P Unnikrishnan and Anjan Ganguly.

ICC awards chess champions

INFOGRAPHICTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 07

HEALTH THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 201608

Lisa Rapaport

Reuters

Too much television time has long been linked to childhood obesity, but a U.S. study suggests that the connection holds true for smaller screens too, such as computers, gaming consoles,

tablets and smartphones.With TV, a minimum five-hour-a-day habit

increased the odds of obesity by 78 percent com-pared with teens who didn’t have TV time, the study found. Such heavy use of other screens was tied to a 43 percent greater risk of obesity, researchers report in the Journal of Pediatrics.

“The landscape has changed so quickly with regards to how much we all use mobile screen devices and computers,” said lead study author Dr. Erica Kenney, a public health researcher at Harvard University in Boston.

“We have known for years now that spend-ing too much time watching television contributes to a higher risk of developing obes-ity among kids, mostly because watching too much TV can lead to an unhealthy diet,” Ken-ney added by email. “We see similar associations between other screen device use and diet, phys-ical activity, and obesity risk as we’ve seen in the past for TV.”

To assess how screens large and small influ-ence the risk of obesity, researchers looked at

nationally representative survey data collected in 2013 and 2015 on 24,800 adolescents in grades 9 to 12.

Nearly 17 percent of youth said they watched no TV on weekdays, while 7.8 percent said they watched five hours or more daily.

Nearly one in five teens in the study spent at least five hours a day using smaller screens dur-ing the week.

The survey also asked how many sugary drinks teens consumed and inquired about teens’ height and weight.

More than 25 percent of boys and about 20 percent of girls reported consuming at least one soda or other sugar-sweetened beverage a day.

Approximately two-thirds of boys and three-quarters of girls said they didn’t get daily exercise.

Overall, 14 percent of the teens in the study were obese.

After adjusting for age, race and ethnicity and other time with tiny screens, TV viewing was associated with significantly higher odds of consuming one or more sugary drinks and an increased risk of obesity.

More time with other screens was independ-ently linked to higher odds of insufficient sleep, drinking more sugary beverages and inactivity.

The study can’t prove that television or time on smaller screens causes obesity, however.

It’s also possible that excessive screen time

was caused by obesity, inactivity or fatigue rather than these things being caused by too much time with TVs, smartphones or tablets, the authors note.

Some previous research has found TV causes obesity and that kids who cut back on television can improve their weight, said Dr. David Hill, a researcher at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communica-tions and Media.

The role of other screens has been less clear, with at least one study suggesting only passive TV watching affects obesity risk, Hill, who wasn’t involved in the current study, said by email.

“This study helps us understand that the link between obesity and media use may extend to other types of screens,” Hill said.

This connection may be at least in part due to ads teens see for unhealthy foods, Hill added. Decreased sleep is also tied to obesity, and too much screen time is known to interfere with the amount and quality of sleep teens get.

“We encourage parents to work with kids to examine what they need to accomplish in a day to be successful: how much sleep should they get, when should they eat, how much time do they need for homework, exercise, and family activities,” Hill said. “Screen media time should then fit in around those activities or complement them rather than displacing them.”

Lots of teen screen time tied to obesity

Ellie Krieger

The Washington Post

This, to me, is the ideal winter salad. It offers a light, crisp counterpoint to just about anything you might be stewing or roasting, but also the depth of fla-vour to stand up to those hearty dishes,

and seasonal notes that feel right on a chilly night. It’s simple to make, which is why it is a week-night staple in my home this time of year. It is also festive and enticing enough to serve as a starter for a holiday dinner, where it will set the right tone and rev your guests’ appetites with-out spoiling them for the main course.

The salad itself has just four ingredients, and each can be varied based on your preferences or what you have at home. I use red leaf for its

autumnal hue and yielding crispness, but green leaf, kale, spinach or escarole would also work well. Then there’s the fruit, cheese and nut trio of tastes and textures that make the salad so lip-smackingly good.

In this recipe, the combo is juicy slices of ripe pear, pungent blue cheese crumbles and buttery toasted pecans. But feel free to swap in another seasonal fruit, such as sliced apple, grapes or pomegranate; another cheese, such as feta or chevre; or a different nut, such as almonds or walnuts. The dressing, with its tang of Dijon mustard balanced by an earthy sweet-ness from maple syrup, is universal enough to work with any of those substitutions. And the salad itself will pair beautifully with most dishes you make throughout the holiday season.

Green Salad With Pears, Pecans and Blue CheeseIngredients (4 to 6 servings)

For the dressing1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar1 teaspoon Dijon mustard2 teaspoons pure maple syrup1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot1/4 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oilFor the saladLeaves from 1 large head of red leaf lettuce,

torn1 large, ripe pear, peeled, cored and sliced2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled1/3 cup pecan pieces, toasted (see NOTE)

Method:For the dressing: Whisk together the vine-

gar, mustard, maple syrup, shallot, salt, pepper and oil a medium bowl until emulsified.

For the salad: Place the lettuce in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing until coated.

Divide the dressed lettuce among individual plates. Top each portion with slices of pear, some blue cheese crumbles and pecan pieces. Serve right away.

NOTE: Toast the pecan pieces in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool completely before using.

Nutrition | Per serving (based on 6): 170 cal-ories, 3 g protein, 10 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, 2 g dietary fiber, 6 g sugar

FOOD THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 201610

This simple salad willsee you through winter

BOLLYWOODTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 11

Arundhuti Banerjee

IANS

Actress Sakshi Tanwar, who found popularity through television serials and will soon be seen in Aamir

Khan starrer biographical sports drama “Dangal”, says that as a per-former, medium does not make any change in her acting. However, she admits the process of execution var-ies in TV serials and cinema.

“Between the ‘action and cut’, medium does not matter to me as an actress. I am playing a charac-ter and I am performing by following the script. Nevertheless, yes, the execution is different in cin-ema from television,” Sakshi told IANS here.

“If it is a daily soap, there is less chance of retakes and many scenes to shoot in a day, as opposed to cin-ema where we can do a scene again to reach to the perfection.”

She also said: “The story of a TV series might just change

depending on the TRP (television rating point) and audience response, whereas in film the script is set. So, you are aware of the graph of the character in advance.”

Sakshi started her journey with Doordarshan by anchoring the show “Albela Sur Mela” and became popular with TV series “Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii”. She says she never planned to be an actress. But it was a moment of realisation that made her continue her journey.

“When I started anchoring on TV, I had no inclination towards acting. It was rather fun and sheer happi-ness to earn my pocket money. However, I was shooting for a show called ‘Rajdhani’, where during the shooting, I realised that I am enjoy-ing the process of acting and portraying a character which is dif-ferent from my own self... Living someone’s life on screen.”

“I started liking that creative process,” Sakshi.

The next thing happened to her was “Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii”, one

of Balaji Telefilms’ most successful and long-running TV soaps in which Sakshi played the protago-nist Parvati Aggarwal.

“Without even sitting and ana-lyzing if I want to continue acting as a career or explore something else, being the lead character of the serial and committed to the project, eight years went by and it got me huge recognition and people’s love. I just became popular as Parvati Aggarwal,” she said.

However, fame never drove Sakshi to stay on in the limelight, as she took a two-year break.

“I never planned to become an

actress, so there was no greed. Act-ing is just a part of my life. It is not my life. My profession and the pop-ularity that I have earned from it is not ruling my mind all the time. I rule my profession,” said the Alwar-born talent who also scored a six with her other fiction show “Bade Achhe Lagte Hain”.

In “Dangal”, which is releasing on Friday, Sakshi plays the wife of superstar Aamir Khan, who essays former champion wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. The film traces how he trains his two daughters Babita and Geeta to become wrestling champions.

Between ‘action and cut’, medium doesn’t matter: Sakshi Tanwar

IANS

Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who is currently busy shooting for her upcoming film

“Toilet-Ek Prem Katha”, says she is a “very confident bathroom singer”.

“I am a bathroom singer. I have been a bath-room singer since I was young... I am a very confident bathroom singer rather,” Bhumi told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The 27-year-old actress says she is unaf-fected by family’s complaint over her bathroom singing.

“I have had my family complain as well, but I am pretty unaffected.”

“Toilet- Ek Prem Katha” is slated to release worldwide on June 2, 2017. The film is a love story with a satirical flavour and is directed by Shree Narayan Singh.

The film stars Akshay Kumar and Anupam Kher. This will be the first time Akshay will be seen with the “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” famed star. It is produced by Aruna Bhatia, Plan C Studios and Abundantia and presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and KariArj Entertainment.

I’m a confident bathroom singer: Bhumi Pednekar

HOLLYWOOD THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 201612

Lindsey Bahr

AP

Martin Scorsese’s “Silence “ is not an easy film to watch. At times it’s grotesquely violent, at others tediously slow. But it is a full and worthy cinematic experience that

is bold, thought provoking and utterly singular. That it’s also a nearly three-decade effort from one of our living greats is just an interesting fac-toid in the end — plus, we’ve been here before a few times over with Scorsese’s passion projects.

Scorsese and screenwriter Jay Cocks (“The Age of Innocence”) adapted “Silence” from Shu-saku Endo’s 1966 novel of the same name. Set in the 17th century, the film follows two Portu-guese Jesuit priests, Father Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Garrpe (Adam Driver) who journey to Japan to try to find their fellow mis-sionary, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who has been rumored to have renounced his faith.

It’s an acutely dangerous mission, which Father Valignano (Ciaran Hinds) tries to dissuade Rodrigues and Garrpe from pursing. In the years after the Shimabara Rebellion, Christianity in Japan was practiced only in secret — iconogra-phy and texts were confiscated and the known and even suspected devout were tortured and killed. But, driven by faith and duty Rodrigues and Garrpe might as well not have a choice in

the matter at all. They can’t even fathom not going, though, and thus they do.

The two men have to sneak into the country with the help of a semi-trustworthy scoundrel who is still reeling from his own crisis of faith. Japan (really, Taiwan where they shot) even looks uninviting. Shot by Rodrigo Prieto with produc-tion design from Dante Ferretti, the gray skies seem ready to close in on the mountains and subdued landscapes, and below, the dark sea thrashes violently against the shore.

When they arrive, their series of trials begin. They preach to local villagers desperate for an organised religion they’ve been forbidden from, they give away every cross and rosary they have and wonder whether the impoverished towns-people cherish the objects more than the meaning behind them, and they watch as authorities come through and ravage the towns looking for Chris-tians to test.

Rodrigues and Garrpe separate for their safety and we continue to follow Rodrigues through the Japanese countryside as he encoun-ters more dire displays of Japan’s utter and complete intolerance for Christianity. In one of the more powerful sequences, three older men are hung from crosses positioned deep in the ocean’s waters — the thrashing waves killing them slowly for their refusal to apostatize. An increasingly haunted Rodrigues looks on from a hiding spot.

Garfield carries the film and Rodrigues’ agony

on his slight shoulders — his second film about faith in a single season, following Mel Gibson’s

“Hacksaw Ridge.” But it is Japanese actor Issey Ogata who steals the show as an older samurai who not only tells Rodrigues what’s what but provides some of the funniest and disturbing moments in the film. It’s a tonal departure, but a welcome one in what can be a bit of a slog.

It’s a much more traditional and subdued film than the knowingly provocative “The Last Temptation of Christ.” There’s no Peter Gabriel guitar and nothing that is likely to enrage or inspire protests. But it does pick at doubt in a spiritually similar way. Rodrigues knows what his faith requires, and yet it continues to be tested and challenged by the physical and political real-ities of where he’s inserted himself. Do the peasants, so grateful for his teachings, actually believe? Or are they looking for a way to the afterlife? What good, he’s forced to wonder, is he actually doing there? “Silence” is as much about colonialism and intolerance as it is faith and conviction. While I’m still not sure what Scorsese wants the audience to think by the time the screen goes to black, the questions raised nonetheless feel modern and resonant.

“Silence,” a Paramount Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some disturbing violent content.” Running time: 161 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Scorsese’s ‘Silence’ is a gorgeous and tedious journey

SCIENCE & TECHTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 13

Hayley Tsukayama

The Washington Post

Over the weekend, at least 10 million players downloaded Nintendo’s first true mobile game, “Super Mario Run.” It quickly shot to the top of the most-downloaded lists

for the United States and Japan and was the top-grossing app in the US. But that still didn’t stop many players from lodging their complaints about the game, in a sign that Nintendo may not understand our expectations for mobile games.

“Super Mario Run” is free to download but costs you a Hamilton (or $10) to play in full. As I noted in my review of the game, I think the app gives you plenty to justify that price tag, but it’s still very high for a mobile title. Others seemed to agree. While some bad reviews complain about the game’s design - particularly that Mario runs on his own and that the app requires a constant Internet connection - the overwhelming major-ity of gripes center on the price tag.

“Ten-dollars is an exorbitant price to pay for an iPhone game,” read a two-star review of the game on Apple’s store. Said a one-star reviewer:

“I believe this game is worth the $10. However, it was extremely shady and dishonest not men-tion [sic] any price during the keynote announcement or when you buy the app.”

(Nintendo and Apple did mention that there would be a single in-app purchase for the full game when it was introduced, but not the actual price.)

Nintendo shares took a dive on the Tokyo market after the disappointing reviews and sales since its launch. “Super Mario Run” made an esti-mated $4 million in its opening weekend. That’s a lot of gold coins, but not on par with the latest mobile-game hit “Pokémon Go,” which had made an estimated $35 million of that in its first weekend - and at least $600 million in revenue since its release.

Both the poor reviews and sales numbers suggest Nintendo may not understand what makes players stick with mobile games. For instance, “Super Mario Run” isn’t designed to make money on mobile devices in the same way that other hit games have recently. It’s taken a more traditional approach to selling it to us. Like the phone games of yore, Mario is essentially a game you buy up front. There are a few free lev-els, but the company is essentially asking you to pay once for everything.

That hasn’t sat well with some mobile gam-ers, who are obviously used to having some time to download and try a game for a while before they put out any money.

As Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities noted, if you look at the top-grossing games -

“Super Mario Run,” at least for this week, excepted - you’ll see that the list is dominated by free-to-play models with in-app purchases. These microtransactions have become a primary way

for game companies to make money from us in the App Store era, asking us to pitch in a buck or two to get buildings or character attributes more quickly. In most cases, players essentially pay for items with their time (waiting for them to build) or their money. Speaking as a player, in-app purchases can be annoying, but the best games make it feel like I have a real choice between those two options.

It’s true that in an in-app purchase game, some people may opt to never pay real money to developers. But others will pay money for a game item, and often. And those dollars can really add up.

For mobile game makers, in-app purchases have therefore become a much better model. High-spending players - often called “whales” in the industry, a term borrowed from high-stakes gambling - may spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a mobile game to get a rare item or craft the perfect kingdom. These big spenders tend to only make up 1 or 2 percent of a game’s player base, Pachter said, but they help it make serious money.

If Nintendo wants to keep focusing on mobile, Pachter suggested that it may be best for Nin-tendo to release mobile versions of its classic catalogue in a constant stream. That would give it several small hits and let it stick to the model it likes. Otherwise, he said, the company has to develop games that work with an in-app pur-chase model to have Pokémon Go-style hits.

But it won’t be easy. “It’s a skill,” Pachter said. “Nintendo does not have that skill.”

Here’s why we’ll pay cash for Pokemon Go but not for Mario.

disappoints mobilegamers

BABY BLUES

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

Biographical sports drama on former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and

his two wrestler daughters’ struggle towards glory at the Commonwealth

Games in the face of societal oppression.Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

DANGAL

NOVO ROYAL PLAZA

ASIAN TOWN

MALL

LANDMARK

Office Christmas Party (2D/Comedy) 10:30am, 12:40, 2:50, 5:00, 7:10, 9:20 & 11:30pmPassengers (Drama) 2D 10:00am, 1:00, 3:30, 2:40, 6:00, 7:20, 8:30, 9:40, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight 3D 12:20 & 5:00pmSing (Animation) 2D 10:00, 11:00am, 12:00noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 10;00pm 3D 12:00noon, 4:00 & 8:00pm Saber Google (2D/Arabic) 12:00noon The Last King (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnightMoana (2D/Animation) 10:15am, 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 & 7:15pmBlackburn (2D/Horror) 9:30 & 11:15pmRogue One: A Star Wars Story (2D/Action) 9:00 & 1145pm Saber Google (2D/Arabic) 10:30am, 3:00 & 5:30pm Collateral Beauty (2D/Drama) 1:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnightDangal (2D/Hindi) 10:00am, 1:15, 4:30, 7:45 & 11:30pmRogue One: A Star Wars Story (3D IMAX/Adventure) 10:00am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm

Dangal (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 2:15, 8:00 & 11:00pm Sing (2D/Animation) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00pm 10 Kalppanakal (2D/Malayalam) 11:45am, 5:15 & 11:30pm Blackburn (2D/Horror) 2:00pm Moana (2D/Animation) 3:30pmOffice Christmas Party (2D/Comedy) 5:30 & 9:30pm Passengers (2D/Adventure) 7:30 & 11:30pm Saber Google (2D/Arabic) 7:45pm The Last King (2D/Action) 9:45pm

Dangal (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 4:30, 8:30 & 11:00pm Sing (2D/Animation) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00pm Blackburn (2D/Horror) 2:00pm10 Kalppanakal (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 11:30pm Moana (2D/Animation) 3:30pmSaber Google (2D/Arabic) 5:30pm Office Christmas Party (2D/Comedy) 7:30 & 9:30pm The Last King (2D/Action) 7:45pmPassengers (2D/Adventure) 9:30 & 11:30pm

10 Kalppanakal (2D/Malayalam) 11:45am, 7:15 & 11:30pm Sing (2D/Animation) 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00pm The Last King (2D/Action) 2:00pmDangal (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 2:15, 8:00 & 11:00pm Moana (2D/Animation) 3:45pmOffice Christmas Party (2D/Comedy) 5:15 & 9:30pm Blackburn (2D/Horror) 5:45pmSaber Google (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm Passengers (2D/Adventure) 9:30 & 11:30pm

Sapthagiri Express (Telugu) 12:30pmDangal (Hindi) 12:30, 3:00, 3:45, 6:15, 7:00, 9:30, 10:15, 12:45, 01:30 & 02:00am Ore Mukam (Malayalam) 6:00pm Katapana (Malayalam) 12:30, 3:15, 8:30 & 11:15pm10 Kalapanakal (Malayalam) 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30pm & 01:00am

THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016

VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER

CINEMA PLUS14

ROXYSing (Animation) 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00pm 10 Kalppanakal (Malayalam) 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00pm & 12:30am Star Wars: Rogue One (Action) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30pm & 12:00midnight Dangal (Hindi) 2:00, 5:30 , 8:00, 9:00, 11:15pm & 12:30am

AL KHORDangal (Hindi) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight

Sing (Animation) 12:00noon, 2:15, 4:30 & 6:45pm Moana (Animation) 11:30, 2:00 & 4:30pm Office Christmas Party (Comedy) 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm

CROSSWORD CONCEPTIS SUDOKU

ALL IN THE MIND

08:00 News08:30 Witness09:00 Once Upon

a Time in Punchbowl

10:30 Inside Story11:00 News11:30 The Stream12:30 Latin America

Investigates13:00 NEWSHOUR14:30 Inside Story15:00 Witness16:00 NEWSHOUR17:00 News17:30 The Stream18:00 newsgrid19:00 News19:30 Rewind20:00 News20:30 Inside Story21:00 NEWSHOUR22:00 News22:30 The Stream23:00 Boko Haram

13:05 Ice Road Truckers

13:55 Counting Cars

14:20 Counting Cars

14:45 Fifth Gear

15:35 Pawn Stars

16:00 American Pickers

17:40 Swamp People

18:30 Time Team19:20 American

Pickers21:00 Forged

In Fire21:50 Billion

Dollar Wreck

22:40 Time Team23:30 Forged In

Fire

13:20 Bondi Vet13:50 Dr. Jeff:

Rocky Mountain Vet

14:45 Gator Boys15:40 Venom

Hunter16:35 Tanked17:30 Ten

Deadliest Snakes

18:25 Monster Croc Invasion

19:20 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia

20:15 Tanked22:05 Man,

Cheetah, Wild

23:00 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia

13:05 How Do They Do It?

13:30 Storage Hunters UK

14:20 Railroad Alaska

15:10 Deadliest Job Interview

16:00 Deadliest Catch

17:40 Wheeler Dealers

19:20 Deadliest Job Interview

20:10 Storage Hunters UK

21:50 Marooned With Ed Stafford

22:40 The Return Of Monster Mako

23:30 Fat N’ Furious

King Features Syndicate, Inc.

BRAIN TEASERSTHURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2016 15

Yesterday’s answer

Conceptis Sudoku: Conceptis Sudoku is

a number-placing puzzle based on a

9×9 grid. The object is to place the

numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so

that each row, each column and each

3×3 box contains the same number only

once.

EXACT, EXAMINE, EXAMPLE,

EXCEED, EXCEL, EXCERPT,

EXCITED, EXCLAIM, EXCLUDE,

EXEMPT, EXERT, EXHALE,

EXHIBIT, EXHORT, EXILE, EXOTIC,

EXPAND, EXPECT, EXPEL,

EXPERT, EXPLAIN, EXPLOIT,

EXPLORE, EXPORT, EXPUNGE,

EXTEND, EXTENT, EXTINCT,

EXTOL, EXTORT, EXTRACT,

EXUDE.