Australia has rejected a coal mining application based on environmental law for the first time.

MELBOURNE – Overseas travelers should be quarantined in hotels guarded by police, an inquiry into an Australian city’s bungled quarantine program reported on Friday. Victoria Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and senior public servant Chris Eccles both resigned after the inquiry heard evidence of their involvement in the program. Also Friday, Australia’s highest court upheld a state’s border closure and dismissed billionaire businessman Clive Palmer’s argument that the pandemic measure was unconstitutional. The seven High Court judges ruled that Western Australia’s state border closure to non-essential travel applied during “a hazard in the nature of a plague or epidemic” complied with the constitution. All Australian states and territories have used border restrictions to curb infections and a court ruling against Western Australia could have impacted their pandemic responses.

Australias highest court has upheld a states border closure and dismissed a case arguing the pandemic measure was unconstitutional. The High Court judges ruled that Western Australias border closure to non-essential travel applied during a hazard in the nature of a plague or epidemic complied with the constitution. The seven High Court judges ruled that Western Australia’s state border closure to non-essential travel applied during “a hazard in the nature of a plague or epidemic” complied with the constitution. All Australian states and territories have used border restrictions to curb infections and a court ruling against Western Australia could have impacted their pandemic responses. The General Assembly voted 150-0 on a resolution authorizing the meeting, though the United States, Israel and Armenia abstained.

Almost exactly 110 years since the RMS Titanic sank, the Titanic II will set sail on its maiden voyage. The Titanic II project was first announced in 2012 and came to life thanks to Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, who founded the Blue Star Line Company, under which Titanic II will operate. Just like the original, Titanic II will separate sections of the boat by class. Designers of Titanic II have said it wont be an identical replica, despite an abundance of similarities. Others say it's a nice tribute to the memories of those who died when the RMS Titanic sunk in 1912.