[http://www.icann.org/images/gradlogo_bow.jpg]<http://www.icann.org/> ICANN Weekly Newsletter News from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers http://www.icann.org/ Week ending 9 May 2014 ________________________________ Announcements This Week Call for Expressions of Interest for 2015 Nominating Committee Chair and Chair-Elect<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-09may14-en.htm> ICANN is seeking expressions of interest for leadership roles in the 2015 Nominating Committee (NomCom) – that of the 2015 NomCom Chair and Chair-Elect. 9 May 2014 FY15 Operating Plan & Budget<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-08may14-en.htm> Join us in creating ICANN's annual operating plan and budget for FY15, which describes planned activities for the year ahead (from 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015). 8 May 2014 New gTLD Auctions Updates – First Auction Confirmed<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-08may14-en.htm> ICANN has updated the Auction Schedule for New gTLD applicants with strings in contention sets. The schedule now lists the participants confirmed for the first Auction on 4 June 2014, and the rescheduling of some sets based on requested postponements. 8 May 2014 Notice of Potential Grant of Registrar Data Retention Waiver Request<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-07may14-en.htm> Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd. ("Blacknight") submitted a data retention waiver request under the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (the "2013 RAA") on the basis of its contention that compliance with the data collection and/or retention requirements of the Specification violates applicable law. 7 May 2014 Enhancing ICANN Accountability<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-06may14-en.htm> As announced at ICANN's March 2014 Public Meeting in Singapore, ICANN is initiating a discussion on Enhancing ICANN Accountability. This discussion will look at how ICANN remains accountable in the absence of its historical contractual relationship to the U.S. Government and the perceived backstop with regard to ICANN's organization-wide accountability provided by that role. 6 May 2014 ________________________________ Upcoming Events [http://london50.icann.org/sites/default/files/logo-300x214-30apr14-en.png]22-26 June 2014: 50th International Public ICANN Meeting – London<http://london50.icann.org/> About ICANN ICANN Bylaws<http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm> Our bylaws are very important to us. They capture our mission of security, stability and accessibility, and compel the organization to be open and transparent. Learn more at www.ICANN.org<http://www.icann.org/>. Strategic Plan, 2012 - 2015<http://www.icann.org/en/planning/> Adopted FY14 Operating Plan and Budget<http://www.icann.org/en/financials/budget-opplan.htm>