Elton John cancels Las Vegas concerts due to "unusual bacterial infection"

Sir Elton John has pulled out of a series of concerts in Las Vegas due to an “unusual bacterial infection” he contracted in South America, which left him in intensive care.

The singer announced he was pulling out of the shows on Monday in a statement that explained that he spent two nights in intensive care and was released on 22 April after becoming ill on a flight to the UK from Chile.

“During a recent, successful tour of South America, Elton contracted a harmful and unusual bacterial infection,” the statement read.

“During his return flight home from Santiago, Chile he became violently ill. Upon returning to the UK, Elton’s doctors admitted him to hospital, where he underwent immediate treatment to remove the infection. After spending two nights in intensive care followed by an extended stay in hospital, Elton was released from hospital.”

It added that the infection was “rare and potentially deadly” but that the star’s medical team identified it quickly and that he is expected to make a full and complete recovery.

Elton John also added: “I am so fortunate to have the most incredible and loyal fans and apologise for disappointing them. I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well.”

The affected shows were part of the Million Dollar Piano show and were due to take place at Caesars Palace in April and May, while another gig in Bakersfield, California, on 6 May was also cancelled.

The singer is expected to return for his scheduled gigs at Twickenham, in London on 3 June.

Elton John cancels Las Vegas concerts due to "unusual bacterial infection"

Sixth type cancels all morning lessons to assist sleepy college students

The end of falling asleep throughout courses? A private sixth type in Surrey hopes so. Photograph: Corbis

A personal school is to start lessons for sixth formers at one.30pm simply because teenagers “have a biological disposition to going to bed late and struggling to get up early”.

Hampton Court House in East Molesey, Surrey, believes that the adjust from the typical time of 9am, with courses ending at 7pm, will be far more productive and much less nerve-racking for its students. The staggered begin will also indicate that the pupils can keep away from rush-hour targeted traffic.

Headmaster Man Holloway explained: “There is now a lot more and a lot more scientific evidence to assistance what many parents and teachers have acknowledged for many years.

“The truth is that numerous youngsters do not rest sufficiently for the duration of the week and this can, and usually does, have a considerable effect on teenage cognition and mental and bodily health typically.”

Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, at the moment in yr 10 and who will be one particular of the initial to undertake the new regimen, said: “I want to wake up in my bed, not in my maths lesson.”

A school spokesman said: “Dad and mom know it can be a difficult job to preserve regimen in a teenager’s daily life. The independent school, Hampton Court Property, believes that there is a much more productive and anxiety-totally free way to encourage A-level students to concentrate on their educational wants.

“It really is a daring step forward, but a pioneering decision has now been produced by Hampton Court Home to begin lessons for sixth formers at one.30pm rather of the standard time of 9 am.

“The purpose? Current and persuasive research has more reinforced the truth that youngsters have a biological disposition to going to bed late and struggling to get up early.”

Sixth type cancels all morning lessons to assist sleepy college students