Bronchitis sidelines Affleck

New York — Ben Affleck missed the London premiere of “Jersey Girl” this week because he was hospitalized in Boston for severe bronchitis, his New York-based publicist confirmed Friday.

The 31-year-old actor had been hospitalized at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center but was now recuperating at his Boston home, Ken Sunshine told AP Radio.

The London screening of the film, directed by Kevin Smith, took place Wednesday night. “Jersey Girl,” which included a cameo by Affleck’s former fiancee, Jennifer Lopez, reaped just $8.3 million in its March debut.

Celebrity trinkets up for grabs

Los Angeles — People will be able to bid on a visit with Tom Cruise, the Mini Cooper that Charlize Theron drove in “The Italian Job,” and a kiss from Sharon Stone as part of a benefit auction for a program that delivers food to people with AIDS and other serious illnesses.

Proceeds of Sunday’s “Hollywood 100” auction will benefit Project Angel Food, which delivers free meals to people in Los Angeles County disabled by illnesses.

The items also include a dress made for Elizabeth Taylor, a dress from Sarah Jessica Parker, George Burns’ glasses and cigar, and personal effects from Benji the dog.

Rolling Stone reclaims bass

Wellington, New Zealand — Nearly 40 years after he lost it, Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman has one of his guitars back, thanks to a New Zealand musician.

Wellington music maker and business consultant Nick Sceats airfreighted the bass to Wyman two months ago after discovering that it belonged to the rock star.

Now, Wyman has sent a note to Sceats, thanking him for the bass that he thought he’d lost forever, local media reported Friday.

“It doesn’t look too bad for wear and tear, considering what it has gone through and the traveling it has done over the years,” Wyman wrote in the letter, excerpts of which were printed in Wellington’s Dominion Post newspaper.

The rare guitar, called a Wyman bass, was one of a small number that the manufacturer Vox made in the 1960s, and the only Vox guitar adorned with an endorser’s name: Wyman.

Gateses reach out to Bangladesh

Seattle — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it would give $1 million to a group that offers health programs for poor people in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee received the money as part of the 2004 Gates Award for Global Health, which rewards efforts to improve health in the developing world.

The foundation made the announcement Wednesday.

The BRAC’s community-based health programs serve about 31 million people in Bangladesh, almost a quarter of the country’s population. The services provided range from nutrition centers to HIV/AIDS prevention education.