SAO PAULO. KAZINFORM - The Center for Viral Surveillance and Serological Evaluation, based at the Butantan Institute, São Paulo, has identified for the first time in Brazil the BN.1 subvariant of the omicron. It was detected in a 38-year-old female resident of the city of São Paulo last October 27th, Agencia Brazil reports.

ALMATY. KAZINFORM Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is holding a meeting with the public in Almaty now, Kazinform learned from the Akorda press service.

GENEVA. KAZINFORM Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations Yerlan Alimbayev met with representatives of Geneva-based NGOs to discuss latest political developments in Kazakhstan, including recently adopted laws, reforms in the areas of protection of human rights, socio-economic development and upcoming presidential elections, the press office of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

ASTANA. KAZINFORM The Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service published a joint statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia on further strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

ASTANA. KAZINFORM The first in Kazakhstan, Umai National Award, established by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is an equivalent to the Tony Award. For three months, Kazakhstan’s well-known painters competed for the right to be the author of the sketch of the Umai Award statuette. The Artistic Council of Astana Opera, which became the venue for the award, determined the best of the best – Armat Bektas, a sought-after painter in the artistic field. His work was selected from among others submitted in the competition, the press service of Astana Opera informs.

ASTANA. KAZINFORM – Kazakhstan claims a gold medal finishing the 20km distance in 1:27:30 in the cross country team relay at the Asian Mountain Bike Championship held in Suncheon, South Korea, Kazinform ciytes the press service of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation.

ASTANA. KAZINFORM The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan informs about the opening of accreditation of foreign journalists to cover the following events:

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Kazakhstan prepares to hold an early presidential election on November 20, as declared by the decree signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on September 21. More about the history of elections in Kazakhstan, and what the upcoming election means for the country’s political system is in the latest article of Kazinform.

VIENNA. KAZINFORM The paintings and art work of Kazakh children were presented for the first time in Vienna under the «One world. New generation» week of cultural events. The participants from Kazakhstan, 12-17 y.o. ten children, are the winners of two republican drawing competition among kids – «Animals are my friends» and «My green planet», who arrived in Europe with support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Austria and «Edustream» Educational Center, MFA press service informs.

NUR-SULTAN. KAZINFORM - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Pope Francis in Akorda presidential palace, Kazinform cites the Akorda press service.