Torture Video Derails US-Emirates Nuke Deal

(NEWSER) - An Abu Dhabi prince captured on videotape torturing a grain merchant has been detained by authorities, CNN reports. Sheik Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan is under house arrest pending an investigation, officials of the United Arab Emirates have told the US State Department. The videotape shows the prince beating, burning and then using his car to run over his victim. The tape has held up negotiations between the US and UAE on a nuclear pact. More»

Emirates expected to sign nuclear co-operation deal with US today

(NEWSER) - Abu Dhabi is planning a shift away from fossil fuels despite being one of the world's major oil producers, BusinessWeek reports. The UAE territory, faced with surging demand for electricity and dwindling natural gas reserves, aims to build nuclear plants to supply a quarter of its power. A cooperation deal with the US could be signed as soon as today, despite some American lawmakers' objections. More»

10-year-old kids still used in dangerous sport

(NEWSER) - Children as young as 10 are still being used as jockeys in dangerous camel races in the United Arab Emirates, despite a law banning the practice. Observers from the group Anti-Slavery International photographed children racing at a recent event in Abu Dhabi attended by police officers and government officials, the Independent reports. More»

Smuggled tape shows sheikh beating, whipping man before running him over

(NEWSER) - A tape smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates and obtained by ABC News shows a member of the country's royal family viciously torturing a man. Uniformed police assist as the sheikh—the brother of the country's crown prince—tortures the man with whips and cattle prods, pours salt in his wounds, and then runs him over with an SUV. More»

Abu Dhabi could have electricity program by 2017

(NEWSER) - An Arab state may be on the fast track to developing nuclear power—with the help of the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. American experts have been jetting to Abu Dhabi in recent few months to support the UAE’s nuclear aspirations, which could be speedily realized by 2017 under a treaty signed by George W. Bush just before he left office. But while Obama’s calls the program a “model for the world,” other lawmakers remain concerned. More»