Friday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes: 16th January.

We’ve rounded up the headlines from across the world — so it’ll only take you a couple of minutes to catch up on the most important news around at the moment.

1. Brazilian airlines consider imposing a fee for babies

Currently airlines allow children under two to fly for free, or charge them a small percentage of a full fare.

But Brazil’s aviation industry wants to allow airlines to charge a higher fee for non-seated travellers, news.com.au reports.

 “It’s up to the companies to decide their strategy,” said Guilherme Freire, director of institutional relations at Abear in Sao Paulo said, as told Bloomberg reports. “This is about deregulation. Airlines want to be able to offer the best service, and those wanting better service should pay more.”

2. Proposal to sing national anthem in unison on Australia Day

By ABC News

Australians are being encouraged to sing the national anthem together at noon on Australia Day as part of a new campaign.

The National Australia Day Council (NADC) wants the nation to stop and join a swell of voices singing Advance Australia Fair.

“In Sydney at the harbour it will happen with a great deal of pomp and ceremony on the new Navy vessel HMAS Canberra with a 21-gun salute,” the council’s chief executive Jeremy Lasek told 666 ABC Canberra.

“While in the ACT the biggest event is a concert in Commonwealth Park where the national anthem will be played and sung with great passion and energy.”

A version of this post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.

3. Australian Retailers swamped with demands for Charlie Hebdo copies

By ABC News

Australian magazine retailers and distributors say they are being swamped by customers demanding copies of Charlie Hebdo, a publication they have never stocked.

The French satirical magazine usually has a print run of 60,000, but is publishing 5 million copies of a special “survivors’ issue” to mark the deaths of 12 people in the terrorist attack on its Paris office last week.

Its distributor has promised to ship copies around the world, including to Australia, triggering a rush to newsagents and other retailers.

“We’ve close to a couple hundred enquires now,” Vali Valibhoy, owner of Mag Nation in Melbourne, said.

 A version of this post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.

4. Manus Island asylum seekers reportedly self-harming

Asylum seekers on Manus Island have reportedly swallowed razor blades and detergent in protest. Others who were hunger-striking have collapsed after three days without food and water, The Guardian reports.

Detainees are refusing to end demonstrations until their demands are met. They are seeking to be released from detention, and many wish to be handed to the United Nations.

One asylum seeker spoke to The Guardian and said hunger-strikers were not afraid to die.

“I don’t care for anything, I’m not scared for anything. For what I care, what more can they do to me? We will keep fight, and we will get something,” he said.

 Related content: This 40-second audio clip will give you chills.

5. Two Italian aid workers held in Syria have been freed

By ABC News

Two Italian female aid workers abducted in Syria last year have been released, the Italian government says.

“Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo are free, they will return to Italy soon,” the government said in a tweet from its official account.

Officials did not immediately release any further details of how the two young women had come to be freed from their unknown abductors.

The foreign ministry said it was the result of “intense work by team Italy”.

Ms Ramelli, 20 and Ms Marzullo, 21, have been held since being captured by gunmen in Aleppo province while working for aid group Horryaty, which specialises in health and clean water projects

A version of this post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.

6. Man tried to buy girl from mother

A man in NSW has allegedly attempted to buy a girl from her mother in a shopping centre, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The man was found by police in near Newcastle on Thursday. It is alleged he approached the woman and her daughter in December last year and attempted to acquire the daughter in exchange for money.

Police have arrested a 55-year-old man and charged him with attempting to procure a child under 14 for sexual activity, and offensive behaviour and intimidation.

6. Teenager bitten by shark while spearfishing on NSW South Coast

By ABC News

A teenager has been bitten by a shark while spearfishing on the south coast of New South Wales.

The 17-year-old was fishing near a headland north of Mollymook Beach when he was bitten on the hand.

He was taken to Milton Ulladulla Hospital with multiple lacerations to his left hand and fingers.

The closest beach to the attack, Narrawallee Beach, has been closed, while a lifesaver helicopter was sent to check of the safety of swimmers and surfers in nearby areas.

Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said the shark was probably a bronze whaler.

“We’ve notified other beaches in the vicinity but at this stage the only beach that is closed is Narrawallee,” Ms Wishart said.

“The Police have given us information that the shark was around one to one-and-a-half metres long.”

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the teenager was in a stable condition.

A version of this post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.

Catch up on more news in this 90-second update from the ABC: