For the first time in Burmese aviation history, three women will be granted pilot licenses. The three will fly later this year for Air Bagan, a private Burmese airline owned by billionaire Tay Za, a close friend of the family of junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

A senior pilot from Air Bagan told The Irrawaddy: “The three women trained for two years at the Integrated Aviation Academy in Malaysia. They will fly both domestic and international airplanes and are licensed to work on private flights.”

Air hostesses from Air Bagan pose for a photograph at Yangon [Rangoon] International Airport.

Although this is first time women have qualified as pilots, we intend to train several more, he said, adding: “It is great to see women taking on these important roles.”

According to the China Daily, only 16 countries in the world, including China, the US, the UK, Germany, Spain and Pakistan, have female pilots, and officially just eight countries have women trained as fighter pilots.

Air Bagan currently flies to 17 destinations in Burma and recently launched flights from Rangoon to Chiang Mai in Thailand. It has announced that it intends to launch regular flights to Bangkok and Singapore in the near future.

Airline owner Tay Za is currently sanctioned by the US government as are several of his businesses. However, Air Bagan is not on any sanction list. Tay Za's construction company, Htoo Trading, recently secured contracts to work with state-run Chinese companies in building several giant hydroelectric dams in Burma.

Ref: Irrawaddy

Attractive models in low-cut blouses and short shorts acted as presenters at the recent Auto Show in Rangoon, but for many the real entertainment was watching an influential car fan, Nay Shwe Thway Aung, 18, the beloved grandson of the junta's No 1, Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

Known as an avid car buff, Nay Shwe Thway Aung’s presence at the car show dispelled recent rumors posted on Internet blog sites that he had been stabbed or attacked by a gunman near the Ramada Hotel on Oct. 27

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Gossip this year also said he gave a diamond ring and a car to Wut Hmon Shwe Yee, a super model.

The auto show, whose main sponsor was Nivea comestics, was billed as the "First Ever Sport Compact Automotive Event” in Burma.

Twenty-three cars were on display. The cars were not imported from foreign countries, but modified versions of locally existing models such as the MR 2, Supra, Sky Line, RX 2 and Mark 2.

"Some cars are modified with interior decorations and seating, while others have modified exteriors resembling race cars. The show had some extraordinary car decorations," said an event coordinator.

Myo Aung Khine, an auto fan who owns race cars, organized the event. Elite families of members of the military junta and other wealthy car fans browsed the show.

Many of the sons of Burma’s leading businessmen are known for their interest in expensive cars. Gossip swirled around one of the sons of Teza, a businessman close to junta members, when pictures of him and an expensive race car appeared on the Internet two years ago.

New cars are not commonplace in Burma, but in recent months more new foreign models have been imported for sale.

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