Friday's news in 5 minutes.

Warning: This article contains information about domestic violence which may be distressing for some readers.

1. Mother-of-three allegedly killed on a cruise ship by husband because she “wouldn’t stop laughing” at him.

Kristy and Kenneth Manzanares were meant to be enjoying a week-long cruise through the waters off Alaska.

Now, Kenneth is accused of murdering his 39-year-old wife, after a domestic dispute between the pair allegedly turned deadly on Tuesday night.

According to federal court documents seen by KTUU News, security and medical personnel on board the The Emerald Princess ship responded to an incident in the couple’s cabin about 9pm on July 25.

The documents state there was blood “spread throughout the room” and Kristy, a mother of three who worked in real estate, was found with a severe head wound.

She was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later.

One witness reportedly said that when he asked Kenneth – who was found with blood on his hands and clothing – what had happened to Kristy, he replied, “She would not stop laughing at me”.

The witness also told investigators Kenneth tried to drag his wife’s body toward a balcony before cruise ship staff arrived.

Another witness, Brian Eckstrom, said he went to the floor where the incident took place after hearing the ship’s captain ask for security assistance over the intercom.

“I see this little girl sitting on – I assume – her grandma’s.. lap wrapped up in a blanket. And she’s just sobbing,” he told KTUU.

“A man came walking out from the hallway where it happened… his jeans were completely covered in blood and he came out saying, ‘It’s not good, it’s not good’.”

It’s believed the couple were travelling with a large group, including their children.

The court documents also state that Kenneth told FBI investigators – who are required to step in when deaths occur in international or US waters – “my life is over” during their search of the cabin.

Around 4,500 passengers were stuck on board for almost 24 hours while investigations took place before they were allowed to disembark in Alaska.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT.

2. Devastated mum of slain Tiahleigh Palmer to appeal against foster brother’s sentence.

The devastated mother of slain Brisbane schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer intends to push for an appeal against a jail sentence handed to her daughter’s foster brother.

Josh Thorburn, 21, was sentenced in the Beenleigh District Court on Thursday to 15 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice, AAP reports.

He’ll serve three months before the sentence is suspended for three years.

Thorburn admitted lying to police and the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) as they investigated 12-year-old Tialeigh’s murder.

Police believe Thorburn’s father Richard murdered Tiahleigh in October 2015 when it was revealed Thorburn’s younger brother Trent had allegedly had sex with the schoolgirl.

The court heard Thorburn had been called to a family meeting about Tiahleigh where it was decided the family would lie about her disappearance.

Tiahleigh’s body was discovered on a Gold Coast riverbank almost a week after she disappeared.

Tiahleigh’s mother Cindy was part of a packed gallery that included detectives and members of Thorburn’s family.

She said the sentence was a disappointing outcome.

“The justice system has let us down horribly today,” Ms Palmer said outside court.

“Most of all they’ve let down Tiahleigh and her fight for justice.”

Thorburn’s defence barrister Jeff Hunter QC told the court his client lied out of fear.

“Whilst it’s true Richard did not threaten my client, he was nonetheless well and truly afraid of him,” Mr Hunter said.

“He wishes he did the right thing immediately and felt dreadful about giving a false account.”

Judge Colin Chowdhury said it was clear Thorburn had an “acute fear” of his father but that did not excuse his actions.

“As a result of an agreement with your parents and brother you tried to conceal a horrific crime,” Judge Chowdhury said.

“A significant police investigation was substantially obstructed … you had time to think about your actions, despite the pressure of your parents at the time, and you chose to deliberately lie.”

Thorburn’s father Richard has been charged with murder while his brother Trent is facing charges of incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Thorburn’s mother Julene is also facing charges of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

3. Bill Gates has just been dethroned as the world’s richest person.

Amazon.com Inc chief executive Jeff Bezos has unseated fellow tech billionaire Bill Gates as the richest person in the world, profiting from the e-commerce company’s meteoric stock rise to reach a fortune of $US90.6 billion ($A113.7 billion), Forbes reports.

Amazon shares jumped 1.6 per cent at the start of trading on Thursday, boosting the net worth of Bezos – the company’s founder and largest shareholder – by $US1.4 billion, according to Forbes, which tracks the world’s wealthiest people.

The stock was up ahead of Amazon’s second-quarter earnings report after Thursday’s market close. Analysts expect the world’s largest online retailer will report that its sales jumped 22 per cent to $US37.2 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Bezos, a relative newcomer to the top of Forbes‘ list, has benefited from the seemingly boundless expansion of Amazon into new markets.

The once-bookseller plans to acquire Whole Foods Market Inc, at the same time it is making strides in the fashion business, Hollywood, enterprise computing and general retail from India to Mexico.

Reuters could not independently verify the wealth of Bezos or Microsoft Corp’s co-founder Gates.

A philanthropist, Gates has given $US31.1 billion to charitable causes through 2016 and has a net worth of $US90.1 billion, Forbes said.

4. Man watched a video of another being shot at Sydney station, unaware it was his half-brother.

Charlie Huynh watched a graphic video of police gunning down an armed man at Sydney’s Central Station unaware it was his half-brother, Danukul Mokmool, who lay dead on the floor.

“A friend of a friend of mine sent to our group a video and it was clear everything was perfect and I sort of saw an Asian character and I thought ‘Oh wow, the cops actually shot him’,” Mr Huynh told Fairfax Media on Thursday.

It wasn’t until police knocked on his door hours later that he found out it was his troubled older sibling.

“It is devastating to hear he has left this life pretty early,” Mr Huynh said.

Mr Mokmool, who was on mental health medication and had done time in prison according to his sibling, was shot dead after a short stand-off with police on Wednesday night.

Central Station florist Manuel Theoharis was at his shop about 6.30pm when 30-year-old Mr Mokmool allegedly grabbed him from behind and threatened him with a bottle.

Mr Theoharis, 73, says he initially thought his attacker was a friend playfully surprising him until he felt the jagged glass pressed against his neck.

He managed to escape the man’s grip before he grabbed a pair of scissors and kicked over buckets of flowers, breaking vases.

Police shot Mr Mokmool after he allegedly refused to put down the scissors.

Mr Theoharis said officers had escorted him around the corner when he heard loud shots.

“I feel sorry for him, he’s not alive and I’m happy. I have my life but I could be where he is,” he told AAP.

Mr Mokmool attended a medical centre at Liverpool each morning and was known to disappear when he had things on his mind, Mr Huynh said, which is how he believes his half-brother came to be in the city.

“He does have (issues with mental health and drugs). Sometimes he’ll have a go here and there,” Mr Huynh said.

“To be honest … he was more verbal … This has shocked my whole family and shocked me.”

Cleaning up broken glass and scattered flowers with family and friends on Thursday morning, Mr Theoharis said his attacker didn’t ask for money.

“The only thing he said was, ‘Call the police, don’t move’.”

A police critical incident investigation team is examining the shooting and will report to the coroner.

5. Top US general says policy on transgender military personnel is unchanged, despite Trump’s ban.

The United States’ top general says there’s been no change to Pentagon policy on transgender personnel after President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to ban them appeared to catch senior officers by surprise.

Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, began his note on Thursday to service chiefs, commanders and senior enlisted leaders by acknowledging the uncertainty following Trump’s announcement, AAP reports.

“I know there are questions about yesterday’s announcement on the transgender policy by the president,” Dunford wrote.

“There will be no modifications to the current policy until the president’s direction has been received by the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance,” Dunford said in the message.

Dunford then made the assurance that the US military would “treat all of our personnel with respect”.

Trump made his announcement on Wednesday morning in a series of Twitter postings, saying he would ban transgender people from the US military.

The move appeals to some in his conservative political base but creates vast uncertainty for active-duty and reserve transgender service members, who say they number in the thousands.

The White House said Trump had “extensive discussions with his national security team,” and that Defence Secretary Jim Mattis was informed after the president made the decision on Tuesday to go ahead.

But the chief of staff of the US Army, General Mark Milley, said on Thursday he had no advance knowledge of Trump’s decision before his announcement via Twitter.

Trump cited “tremendous medical costs and disruption” as a justification for the ban, a point disputed by experts and advocates for allowing military service to be determined by an individual’s capabilities, not gender identity or sexual preference.

Trump’s tweet appeared to pre-empt an ongoing Pentagon review looking at allowing openly transgender recruits to join the military.

Trump’s plan to ban transgender service members unleashed a storm of legal threats from advocates who say they are seeking plaintiffs who want to sue.

If the Defence Department actively identifies transgender people and discharges them from the military, the Pentagon is likely to face an especially contentious fight, legal experts say.

6. Queensland government denies trying to ‘ban Jesus’ from primary school playgrounds.

Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones denies there has been any change to religious instruction policy in the state’s schools, despite reports of an edict against students “evangelising” to others.

A recent review of religious instruction in Queensland schools recommended principals step in if they see children trying to convert fellow students to Christianity.

“While not explicitly prohibited by the (legislation), nor referenced in the Religious Instruction (RI) policy, the department expects schools to take appropriate action if aware that students participating in RI are evangelising to students who do not,” the department’s report reads, according to AAP.

Ms Jones said there was nothing new about the policy, and the Palaszczuk government supported religious instruction in state schools in consultation with parents.

“No one is telling a child what they can and can’t say in the playground,” Ms Jones said in a statement.

“Principals continue to be responsible for approving the programs of RI in their local school and work closely with parents in their local community to ensure the religious instruction taught in their schools meets legislation and departmental policy.”

Opposition leader Tim Nicholls expressed his displeasure via social media, tweeting “This is bonkers. What’s next, banning Easter eggs? @katejonesqld pls intervene on this Nanny State rubbish.”

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us: news@mamamia.com.au