Canada grants asylum to beauty queen

A beauty queen from Myanmar who sought refuge in Thailand after criticising the military junta in her homeland has been granted asylum in Canada. Han Lay, 23, made headlines last year when she used a pageant speech to call for help for the people of Myanmar. She faced being sent back to her home country after Thai officials stopped her at an airport in Bangkok lastweek because of a problem with her passport. Lay, whose real name is ThawNandar Aung, told Radio Free Asiathat shewas heading to Canada after being granted political asylum there.