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The U. S. Department of Energy said on Wednesday that U. S. stimulus money for advanced battery and electric vehicle grants has been matched at least dollar for dollar.

The department said on Wednesday night that the economic stimulus money, intended to create jobs and promote investment and consumer spending during the recession, is also projected to increase U. S. production of the world's batteries for hybrid and electric cars to 40 percent by 2015 from 2 percent this year.

Punit Malhotra who's just helmed a hit for Karan Johar's Dharma Productions is hoping someone would notice him and cast him as a leading man next.

"I won't cast myself in my next directorial project. I can't direct and act together. But I'd like to act in a film. An actor is what I came here to be", says Punit.

Would he be willing to be cast in a film written by Shobha De? Punit passes, "I'd get spanked on the sets everyday".

But before that Punit is off on a holiday.

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and his cousin, the hot actress Kareena Kapoor are among the hottest list of the actors now. Audience has been waiting for a long time to see the brother-sister sharing the big screen.

Now, the race has started among the filmmakers to sign the cousins. Director Rohit Jugraj and filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala are trying hard to get the Kapoors first for their films.

Authorities in New Jersey have said that a Florida man was indicted Wednesday in an alleged $880 million Ponzi scheme tied to a phantom grocery distribution business.

U. S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a release that Nevin Shapiro, 41, of Miami Beach, Fla., the former owner and chief executive officer of Capitol Investments USA Inc., is accused of soliciting hundreds of millions of dollars from people in New Jersey and elsewhere who thought they were investing in his wholesale grocery distribution enterprise.

The head of U. S. carrier Spirit Airlines Inc. has said that luggage is "not essential" to travel, so paying $45 to place carry-ons overhead helps bag-free people fly.

Chief Executive Officer Ben Baldanza told the U. S. House Transportation Committee on Wednesday, "We are certain that Spirit's decision to unbundle services not essential to the transportation of passengers has enabled more passengers to fly at lower cost. Indeed, given our low fares, it has allowed many to travel who otherwise simply could not afford to do so."

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