Hilton proclaims Shanghai city of future

Shanghai, China – American socialite Paris Hilton checked out Shanghai fashions, cuddled stuffed pandas and sauntered along the famous Bund waterfront on Thursday while visiting China’s most style-conscious city for the MTV Style awards.

“Shanghai looks like the future!” Hilton said in a news conference at the Hyatt on the waterfront, one of the newest landmarks in a city teeming with new skyscrapers.

The celebrity heiress, author, singer, perfume designer and reality TV star was spending two days touring China’s commercial capital before tonight’s gala awards for Chinese style and fashion trendsetters.

Hilton, unfazed by the throngs of onlookers, carried on with her shopping, pausing to hug an elderly lady and to pose in several dresses by Chinese designer Lu Kun, one of the city’s hottest new fashion stars.

Mills McCartney denounces rich as snobs

Dublin, Ireland – Heather Mills McCartney, who is reportedly seeking millions of dollars in her breakup with Paul McCartney, denounced the world’s rich as misers and snobs Wednesday.

Mills McCartney delivered the critical comments during her 90-minute speech to the debating society of Trinity College Dublin.

Former model Mills McCartney, 39, married the 65-year-old music legend in 2002 and gave birth to the couple’s only child, Beatrice, a year later. But the couple separated last year, and McCartney filed for divorce alleging “unreasonable behavior” by his wife.

Mills McCartney said she was reluctantly obliged to befriend the world’s wealthy because that was the only way to maximize her power as an agent for change.

“Sadly, you have to mix at a certain level of people to raise the level of funds you need to bring about the greater good,” she said. “Because people are very snobby. These people who have lots of money, they’re either snobby or they’re stingy. If you have lots of money, you have to be stingy – because why would you want that amount of money?”

Paul McCartney’s personal wealth is estimated at $1.6 billion. British press reports have speculated that McCartney has offered his wife around $50 million, while she is seeking at least double that amount.

Science Guy seeks restraining order

Los Angeles – Bill Nye wants his ex-fiancee out of his life and it’s not just because of some bad chemistry.

Nye, who hosted the educational PBS series “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” is seeking a permanent restraining order against Blair Tindall, alleging she tried to poison his vegetable garden, according to court records.

He said Tindall came to his Studio City home late Sept. 3 dressed in black and carrying “two plastic bottles filled with some sort of solvent,” according to court papers filed last week in Superior Court.

The bottles “may have been emptied on my garden from which I get food produce,” he said in the filing. Nye is seeking to keep Tindall away from his home and from contacting him.

Nye, 51, identified Tindall as his ex-fiancee, even though the two announced in February 2006 that they were married by the Rev. Rick Warren, pastor and author of “The Purpose-Driven Life.”

Tindall, author of “Mozart in the Jungle” and a former concert oboist, admitted in a declaration that she emptied two bottles of weed killer in the garden.

In court papers posted on the Web site The Smoking Gun, Tindall said that after marrying Nye, the two bought the Studio City home for $1 million. But when they found out their marriage license was “invalid,” Nye “ordered me not to move into our home” and the relationship ended, she said.

Sarah Jessica Parker to sell ‘Runway’ dress

New York – It’s instant gratification for “Project Runway” fans: A version of Victorya Hong’s winning dress from Wednesday’s episode will be available for sale as early as today.

The dress is being offered as part of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line, sold at Steve & Barry’s stores nationwide. The “Sex and the City” star was the week’s guest judge on the Bravo reality show about fashion.

The challenge put to the aspiring designer contestants was to create an outfit appropriate for Parker’s casual sportswear collection, known for its cheap pricing compared with other celebrity clothing lines.

The Bitten interpretation of the dress will be offered in black or burgundy for $19.98, and the vest that goes with it will come in gray or black for $14.98.

Saudi prince takes $135M home off market

Aspen, Colo. – A Saudi prince who put a $135 million price tag on his Aspen-area estate has now taken the property off the market because he got no suitable offers, his attorney and agent said.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador to the U.S., put the 90-acre ranch and 56,000-square-foot mansion up for sale in 2006. Real estate experts had said at the time that the headline-grabbing asking price – if someone could be found to pay it – could set a U.S. record.

Attorney William Jordan III, who represents Bandar’s local interests, told the Aspen Daily News in a story published Thursday that Bandar and his family have decided to keep the estate.

The mountain property features a 56,000-square foot palace with 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a racquetball court and an indoor pool. The prince wanted to sell because he was too busy to enjoy it, Saslove said last year.

Bandar served as ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He is now head of Saudi Arabia’s National Security Council.