Nvidia plans to work with humanoid robot makers in the US, Europe and South Korea in addition to China’s Unitree to build robots for researchers, according to the AI chip company’s executives.

After CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote address in Taiwan on Monday ahead of the Computex trade show, Nvidia announced that the company is working with China’s Unitree, a leading maker of humanoid robots, to provide a standardised version of Unitree’s H2 robot that can be used by academic researchers.

The robot’s body will come from Unitree, its hands will come from Singapore-headquartered Sharpa, and the computing brains of the device will come from Nvidia. Nvidia said that researchers at Stanford University and the University of California San Diego, among others, plan to use the machines.

Unitree, whose dancing robots were the centerpiece of China’s Spring Festival gala earlier this year, is pursuing a public listing in China.

But US lawmakers have alleged that Unitree has extensive ties to the Chinese government and military and have introduced a bill that would ban use of the firm’s robots by researchers who receive US government funding.

Nvidia executives told Reuters that the company plans to pursue more efforts like the Unitree one with robotics firms outside China. They did not name the partners in the US, South Korea and Europe and spoke on condition of anonymity as the plans are not public.

The Nvidia executives said the work with Unitree is aimed at improving the cybersecurity of the Unitree robots for researchers. For example, any software updates meant for the robot’s subsystems will have to flow through Nvidia’s chip, where the code can be checked for authenticity.

By directly integrating Nvidia’s ‘Blackwell’ chips with Unitree’s robot bodies, Nvidia, which plans to use the machines in its own research, will bring the same security features that it uses to protect data center servers, the executives said.

Those security technologies, known as secure boot and confidential computing, are aimed at ensuring the robots cannot run malicious code and that sensitive data cannot be moved off the robots without permission.

Gold inched lower on Monday, pressured by a stronger dollar and rising crude oil prices, as investors awaited US President Donald Trump’s decision on a proposed deal to extend the ceasefire with Iran.

Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $4,521.25 per ounce, as of 0520 GMT, after hitting a two-week high in the previous session. US gold futures for August delivery fell 0.9 per cent to $4,551.60.

The dollar rose, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Read more-Gold slips as Iran risks support dollar, keep inflation fears in focus

“Oil’s uptick in price, combined with the still-elusive US-Iran deal, is just enough to keep gold off balance at the start of the week,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

Trump said on Friday he would soon decide on a proposed deal to extend the ceasefire with Iran, though the two countries still appeared to differ on significant issues that have been central to the conflict.

The US said it struck Iranian military sites over the weekend, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday it had targeted a US base in response.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.

Oil prices rose more than 2 per cent in early trading on Monday, stoking concerns around inflation and interest rate hikes.

While gold is traditionally seen as a hedge against inflation, it loses its appeal in a high-interest-rate environment as a non-yielding asset.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said on Friday that the impact of the war in the Middle East on the economy, while still measured, could lead to persistent inflation that might require tighter monetary policy.

“By the end of 2026, gold still has potential to hit $5,500 should favourable circumstances arise, notably lower oil prices and a depreciation of the dollar, underpinned by continued robust central bank buying and its role as a geopolitical and inflation hedge,” Waterer said.

e& has agreed to sell a 12.5 per cent stake in Careem to Uber Technologies for $100m in cash, as the UAE telecoms group sharpens its focus on core operations while retaining significant exposure to the ride-hailing and super app platform.

The transaction will reduce e&’s shareholding in Careem Technologies from 50.03 per cent to 37.53 per cent upon completion. The deal remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

The stake sale comes after a period of rapid growth for Careem Technologies. According to e&, the company has accelerated revenue growth and expanded market share over the past two years, with gross transaction value (GTV) across its core services increasing almost fivefold.

Growth has been driven by momentum across several business verticals, including food delivery, quick commerce, subscription services and digital payments, further strengthening Careem’s position as a multi-service lifestyle platform in the UAE.

In a statement, e& said: “Our partial stake sale to Uber will allow Careem Technologies to benefit from Uber’s global technology experience and platform synergies, and position itself for the next phase of growth. This also reflects e&’s increased strategic focus on its core businesses and disciplined capital allocation priorities, while maintaining exposure to Careem Technologies and remaining aligned with its future growth trajectory. We will continue to work closely with management and fellow shareholders to support and promote the Company as a high-potential growth platform with attractive long-term prospects.”

As part of the agreement, e& has secured a put option that allows it to require Uber to purchase its remaining shares in Careem Technologies. Uber, meanwhile, holds a reciprocal call option that would allow it to require e& to sell its remaining stake.

The options can be exercised between December 1, 2031 and January 31, 2032.

Upon completion of the transaction, e& said it will change the accounting treatment of its remaining investment in Careem Technologies and account for it using the equity method under International Accounting Standard (IAS) 28.

The move reflects e&’s broader strategy of focusing capital allocation on its core telecommunications, digital services and technology businesses, while continuing to participate in the future growth of Careem through its retained minority stake.

The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes, escalating tensions across the region as Kuwait said its air defence systems were intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks early on Monday.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted what it described as “measured and deliberate” self-defence strikes on Iranian radar and drone command-and-control sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island.

The strikes, CENTCOM said, were launched in response to what it called “aggressive Iranian actions”, including the downing of a US MQ-1 drone operating over international waters.

“US fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defences, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters,” CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that no US service members were harmed.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its aerospace force had retaliated by targeting an air base it claimed was used in a US strike on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island in southern Iran.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he would soon decide on a proposed extension to the ceasefire agreement announced in early April, which was intended to provide negotiators with more time to pursue a longer-term resolution to tensions centred on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The flare-up came as Kuwait’s armed forces said their air defence systems were actively intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks.

Authorities said explosions heard across the country were the result of successful interceptions, with warning sirens activated in multiple areas.

No casualties or damage were immediately reported.

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Saudi Arabia has officially begun issuing Umrah visas for the new season, marking the start of preparations for millions of pilgrims planning to visit the holy cities.

The issuance of visas commenced on Sunday, Dhul Hijjah 14, corresponding to May 31, as the kingdom launched the new Umrah season.

Read more-Saudi announces new Umrah calendar: Visa details, key dates revealed

According to the Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH, recently released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims will be able to enter Makkah and obtain Umrah permits through the Nusuk application starting Monday, June 1, a report by Saudi Gazette said.

Key dates announced for 1448 AH season

The ministry has outlined a schedule covering visa issuance, entry and departure dates for pilgrims. The final day for issuing Umrah visas will be 1 Shawwal 1448 AH, corresponding to March 9, 2027. Pilgrims will be permitted to enter the Kingdom until 15 Shawwal 1448 AH, corresponding to March 23, 2027.

Meanwhile, Shawwal 30, 1448 AH, corresponding to April 7, 2027, has been designated as the final departure date for Umrah pilgrims.

The ministry also called on Umrah service providers and overseas agents to strictly adhere to the approved timetable and comply with all regulations and instructions. Officials said the measures are aimed at ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and a smooth pilgrimage experience throughout the season.