عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Features

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy
TT
TT

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Electronic data and applications can play a major role in the plans to confront the new coronavirus. Indeed, Saudi Arabia has been utilizing them since the beginning of the spread of the virus, releasing several apps with a variety of functions to help in the efforts of health bodies against COVID-19.

The latest app that appeared in Saudi Arabia helps contain the virus and return people to normal life as soon as possible. The app uses a notification to warn people who may catch the virus by mingling with known cases.

This app came as normal life was set to return on 21 June accompanied by a rise in cases. The app was developed by the National Information Center affiliated with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence in cooperation with the Ministry of Health which announced an app called "Tabaud" (Arabic for Distancing) that uses the newest technology to notify users in case they came in contact with someone infected.

The app provides three main services: It notifies users if they encountered a known case, sends the information of users to the Ministry of Health to provide medical support, and allows users with the virus to voluntarily disclose the result of their test to those whom they have mixed with in the last 14 days. The app's developers confirm that the app does not violate the privacy of users as it does not provide any data on geographic location and instead only uses Bluetooth technology to randomly gather identifiers and update them.

The Distancing app is considered a means to notify those who encounter known cases. The app sends encrypted data to smartphones that were in the vicinity at the time. This is done per Google and Apple's privacy policy, safeguarding the privacy of users.

Furthermore, the app enables users to receive direct preemptive notifications if a case is discovered and directly request medical support from the Ministry of Health. Saudi Arabia has launched a variety of apps since the beginning of the pandemic as part of its efforts to confront and contain the virus.

Most Viewed

 
 
Features

What Happens When Russian Gas to Europe Via Ukraine Stops?

A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
TT
TT

What Happens When Russian Gas to Europe Via Ukraine Stops?

A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Russian gas producer Gazprom at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo

Austria's energy company OMV was informed by Gazprom that the Russian gas producer would halt deliveries of natural gas via Ukraine to OMV from 0500 GMT on Nov. 16 following OMV winning an arbitration case. Supplies of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine may completely stop from Jan. 1 2025 after the current five-year deal expires as Kyiv has refused to negotiate the new terms of the transit with Moscow during the war.
Here is what happens if Russian gas transit via Ukraine is completely turned off and who will be affected most, according to Reuters.
HOW BIG ARE THE VOLUMES?
Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine are relatively small. Russia shipped about 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas via Ukraine in 2023 - only 8% of peak Russian gas flows to Europe via various routes in 2018-2019.
Russia spent half a century building its European gas market share, which at its peak stood at 35%.
Moscow lost its share to rivals such as Norway, the United States and Qatar since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting the EU to cut its dependence on Russian gas.
EU gas prices rallied in 2022 to record highs after the loss of Russian supplies. The rally won't be repeated given modest volumes and a small number of customers for the remaining volumes, according to EU officials and traders.
UKRAINIAN ROUTE
The Soviet-era Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline brings gas from Siberia via the town of Sudzha - now under control of Ukrainian military forces - in Russia's Kursk region. It then flows through Ukraine to Slovakia.
In Slovakia, the gas pipeline splits into branches going to the Czech Republic and Austria.
Austria still receives most of its gas via Ukraine, while Russia accounts for around two-thirds of Hungary's gas imports.
Slovakia takes around 3 bcm from energy giant Gazprom per year, also about two-thirds of its needs.
Czech Republic almost completely cut gas imports from the east last year, but has started taking gas from Russia in 2024.
Most other Russian gas routes to Europe are shut including Yamal-Europe via Belarus and Nord Stream under the Baltic.
The only other operational Russian gas pipeline route to Europe is the Blue Stream and TurkStream to Türkiye under the Black Sea. Türkiye sends some Russian gas volumes onward to Europe including to Hungary.
WHY DOES THE UKRAINIAN ROUTE STILL WORK?
While remaining Russian gas transit volumes are small, the issue remains a dilemma for the EU. Many EU members such as France and Germany have said they would not buy Russian gas anymore but the stance of Slovakia, Hungary and Austria, which have closer ties to Moscow, challenges the EU common approach.
The countries, who still receive Russian gas, argue it is the most economic fuel and also blame neighboring EU countries for imposing high transit fees for alternative supplies.
Ukraine still earns $0.8-$1 billion in transit fees from Russian gas transit. Russia earns over $3 billion on sales via Ukraine based on an average gas price of $200 per 1,000 cubic meters, according to Reuters calculations.
Russia's gas pipeline export monopoly Gazprom plunged to a net loss of $7 billion in 2023, its first annual loss since 1999, because of the loss EU's gas markets.
Russia has said it would be ready to extend the transit deal but Kyiv has repeatedly said it won't do it.
Another option is for Gazprom to supply some of the gas via another route, for example via TurkStream, Bulgaria, Serbia or Hungary. However, capacity via these routes is limited.
The EU and Ukraine have also asked Azerbaijan to facilitate discussions with Russia regarding the gas transit deal, an Azeri presidential advisor told Reuters, who declined to give further details.