Los Angeles: Bennifer is dead; long live Bennifer. So go reports that have Oscarwinner Ben Affleck newly — or at least likely — engaged to Alias girlfriend Jennifer Garner. Affleck’s publicist, denounced said reports as “garbage.” But there’s no easy way to haul away mounting reports on the couple’s status. Affleck flew Garner’s kin from West Virginia to California last weekend for a surprise party honouring his leading lady at her Brentwood home. Sunday was Garner’s 33rd birthday. But the understanding among the actress’ family was that Affleck was to use the bash to propose. The question apparently was popped in private. A tabloid, meanwhile, noted that Affleck had a 4.5-carat number from Harry Winston

“flown in” — from where, it wasn’t clear — for the occasion. Affleck, 32, and Garner have been a somewhat public couple since last fall. If the original Bennifer tandem (comprising Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) had a knack for dominating the headlines, the all-new Bennifer has a knack for flying under the radar. The masked big-screen superheroes — Affleck was Daredevil to her Elektra in two movies — have rarely been photographed together at movie-star events. The never-yet-wed Affleck previously was engaged to Lopez. — Agencies