####UAE Plans Moral Education Curriculum

Beginning September 2017, public and private schools in the UAE will officially implement a new moral education curriculum, which is designed to encourage respect and innovation in students. The program was reportedly launched by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan to revolutionize education in the country. Taught over a six-week period, the curriculum will include classes on character and ethics, individuals and communities, civic education and cultural education. No explicit details about the ethics or characteristics to be taught was released at the time of writing. In a conversation with The National, Mariam Al Zaabi, an Emirati public school teacher, emphasized the need for such a curriculum for Emirati youth who are exposed to foreign values, culture and experiences.

"I feel that this will be a really big improvement in the personality of the students," said Ms. Al Zaabi, before further expressing her enthusiasm for the ethics component of the curriculum.

The program will be implemented across the Emirates in September 2017 after a pilot version in 52 Abu Dhabi schools in January 2017.

####Legal Reforms in the UAE Include Harsher Fines and Bankruptcy Law

In changes that came into effect on Oct. 23, the UAE Penal Code now allows higher fines and punishments for various crimes committed in the country. In the case of treason, according to The National, “The maximum penalty for undermining state security during times of war has been increased from 10 years to the death penalty.” Other reforms include raising the maximum fines for both crimes and misdemeanors, and preventing expatriates from escaping deportation after the completion of their sentences. Several older laws were also removed with the new law, including one that allowed a husband to punish his wife within the limits prescribed by Sharia law. In addition to legal reforms, the Federal Law Decree No 9 for 2016 on bankruptcy was issued by the President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The law provides a comprehensive legal framework to help distressed companies avoid liquidation and collapse, and hopes to promote the UAE as a place to do international business. Previously, businesses were not able to declare bankruptcy and were commonly forced to liquidate assets.

####Joint Venture between Nuclear Operators of UAE and South Korea

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Korea Electric Power Corporation established a long-term partnership to share nuclear expertise and experience. "KEPCO brings with it international expertise in constructing, operating and maintaining a nuclear power plant," said Mohammed Al Hammadi, ENEC’s chief executive, in a comment to The National. KEPCO’s investment will allow the company to own and supervise the construction of the UAE’s nuclear power plant in Barakah, located in the western corner of Abu Dhabi and slated to be UAE’s first nuclear power station. "[The deal] is one of the largest single instances of foreign investments in the history of the UAE," said Lady Barbara Judge, a member of the International Advisory Board for the development of nuclear energy in the UAE, also in a comment to The National. KEPCO is the largest electric utility in South Korea, currently operating 23 nuclear units with another 15 planned for the future.