Sunday's news in under 2 minutes.

1. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed the first instalment of the government’s new education scheme, confirming that he wants to make public schools “independent”. According to News Corp the plan, which is set to begin in 2014, would see principals and parents in charge of schools, making them more like the current private sector.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne has said, “The philosophy of the Coalition is that we believe that principals and properly qualified parents are perfectly capable of making excellent decisions for their local schools. We trust people. Labor trusts the bureaucracy.” The new plan is set to increase enrolment numbers in public schools, targeting 25% of Australian schools by 2017.

2. The Queensland state government has announced a total ban on UV tanning beds by 31 December 2014. Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said of the ban, “Consultation with the industry has shown businesses feel confident in being able to transition away from the use of UV tanning products without adversely impacting the business.”

Cancer Council Queensland welcomed the decision, and CEO Jeff Dunn said, “The evidence is clear, sunbeds can be lethal … There is no such thing as a safe way to use solariums – unprotected exposure to UV radiation is extremely dangerous.” Similar bans have also been proposed in NSW, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and the ACT.

3. The Queen has sent a message of sympathy as bush fires in NSW continue to rage. The fires are expected to worsen today as the weather grows warmer. Over 140 fires are currently back burning in the Blue Mountains area to shore up containment lines and help prevent the State Mine fire from spreading.

An emergency warning been issued for a fire burning between Lithgow and Bilpin, and residents of Bell are being urged to evacuate by the Rural Fire Service. The Red Cross has issued an urgent call for donations. You can donate by clicking here.

4. The bodies of two – possibly three – Australians have been uncovered from the Mekong River after a Laos Airlines flight from Vientiane crashed three days ago. Divers have been working to recover the 49 bodies from the fast flowing waterway for the past two days. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs said that six Australians were supposed to be on the plane, including an aid worker and his son, as well as a family of four from Sydney.

5. The violin played by the bandmaster of the Titanic as the ship sank has been sold for a world record price of $1.5 million to a collector in England. The instrument was believed lost after the 1912 tragedy, however in 2006 it was uncovered in a UK attic.

6. A 33-year-old man has paid over $100,000 to make his face look like teen pop icon Justin Bieber. Los Angeles local Toby Sheldon has had numerous plastic surgery operations over the past five years to transform his face into his idol’s, possibly making him the biggest Bieliber of all time.

7. Over 98 people have been injured in Buenos Aires after a train failed to stop at the terminal. There have been no casualties, however officials can’t say what caused the accident.