Sacramento, Nov 25 : The Transportation Department of Northern California, which has banned cell phones in cars, is allowing people headed to Tahoe for the holidays to turn their devices on, to test the efficacy of a new software program in sending information regarding traffic conditions to travellers’ handsets.

The new software, called Traffic Pilot, can give a real-time colour-coded map on the cell phone showing how fast traffic ahead is going.

According to sponsors, it''''s a major step towards ‘real time’ tools to battle congestion, basically turning car cabins into commute command centers.

Phones can be programmed to give drivers verbal warnings about problems ahead.

The USD continued to slide into late afternoon trade pushing the majors to late highs as equities continued to climb posting solid gains and holding them into the close. Traders note that much of the day's action was driven by stops as the majors climbed to new weekly highs in some pairs. Major support/resistance in several pairs helped to drive fresh USD selling as well and the speculation is high that the USD will face follow-on long-liquidation into Tuesday's trade. Traders remind that the holiday shortened week will likely encourage book-squaring and today's action helped to confirm that view as the USD bulls headed for the sidelines.

Hanoi - Inflation in Vietnam eased slightly last month, but consumer prices were still 23.25 per cent higher compared to a year ago, the government said Tuesday.

In its monthly report posted on its website, the state-run General Statistics Office said that food prices were up 49.7 per cent. The cost of housing and construction materials rose slower at 21.67 per cent when compared to November 2007.

The government estimates that the Consumer Price Index fell 0.76 per cent in November compared to October - the second consecutive monthly decline.

Melbourne, Nov 25 : Hollywood actress Dakota Fanning, 14, has defended her rape scene in forthcoming flick ‘Hounddog’, insisting its just acting.

The ‘I am Sam’ actress became defensive after there were many calls for her mother to be jailed on child pornography charges for letting Dakota depict the scene.

"It''s a movie and it''s called acting. What drew me to the film was that my character shows people that you can overcome adversity in life and it doesn''t define you,” the Herald Sun quoted Fanning, as saying.

Copenhagen/Nuuk, Greenland - Voters in Greenland went to the polls Tuesday to vote in a referendum on gaining more autonomy within Denmark.

A clear majority of the approximately 39,000 voters was expected to approve the plan, by voting "aap" or "yes" to the plan.

The Arctic island has had home rule since 1979. If the referendum is approved, Greenland aims to secure partial control over its natural resources and take greater charge of justice and legal affairs.

Melbourne, Nov 25 : Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon revealed that the idea of working with real life beau Jake Gyllenhaal made her pick ‘Four Holidays’.

"I usually take movies based on scripts and who I''ll be working with," she says earnestly of her latest comedy, Four Holidays.

"And the main reason I did this movie was to work with Jake,” Herald Sun quoted Resse, as saying.

The ‘The Man In The Moon’ actress revealed that the flick is lighthearted comedy.