People in the news

Paris Hilton single again

New York – It’s apparently over for Paris Hilton and Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos.

“So it would appear. Yes,” Hilton publicist Elliot Mintz told The Associated Press on Tuesday of the reported breakup.

“I’m not going to deny that there was a split,” he said.

Mintz would not provide further details.

Hilton, 25, and Niarchos, 21, began dating last year. The hotel heiress and “The Simple Life” actress announced in October that she was ending her engagement to Paris Latsis, another Greek shipping heir.

Richards out of hospital

Wellington, New Zealand – Keith Richards has been released from a New Zealand hospital where the Rolling Stones guitarist was admitted with a head injury after he reportedly fell out of a palm tree.

Richards, 62, suffered a mild concussion Thursday while on vacation in Fiji. He was treated in a Fiji hospital before being airlifted to Auckland’s Ascot Hospital for observation. It was not immediately clear exactly when he was released or where he went afterward.

Gown auctioned for charity

London – A custom-made gown worn by Keira Knightley to this year’s Oscars ceremony sold for $7,855 in an online auction to fund relief work in East Africa.

The burgundy silk-taffeta one-shoulder gown, designed by Vera Wang for the 21-year-old actress, was bought by a bidder based in Chicago, Oxfam official Katie Abbotts said Monday.

Knightley, who was nominated for a best actress Oscar for “Pride & Prejudice,” said she had wanted to support the British-based charity’s efforts to provide food and clean drinking water in East Africa.

“It’s brilliant that this dress has raised this much,” Knightley said in a statement. “I know it will go a long way to help the people facing this food crisis in East Africa.”

Alba to host MTV awards

New York – Jessica Alba has a new starring role: host of the MTV Movie Awards. “It’s always a crazy, fun show, and I can’t wait to be right in the middle of the action,” the 25-year-old actress said.

Alba is nominated for three golden popcorn trophies – sexiest performance for “Sin City” and best hero and best on-screen team with Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd for “Fantastic Four.”

The 2006 MTV Movie Awards will be filmed June 3 in Culver City, Calif., and air June 8.