Dear Councilors, On behalf of my colleagues who are supporting ICANN¹s IDN Variant Project, I¹m pleased to share with you recent news of the release of the first version of the Maximal Starting Repertoire (MSR-1), a critical step in the implementation phase of IDN variant TLDs: https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2014-06-20-en As you know, in order to support IDN labels in the root zone, ICANN developed a Procedure for the creation of Label Generation Rulesets (LGR) for a number of specific scripts, to create and manage rules applicable to IDN labels in the root. The LGR for a particular script is to be created by an LGR Panel for that script; the Arabic panel has already been seated and a number of other script communities are working to create other panels. MSR-1 is the first Deliverable under the LGR Procedure, and constitutes the defined set of code points from which individual LGR Panels will construct their rules for each script. The next update to the GNSO Council and community on IDN variant implementation is being scheduled for the ICANN meeting in Los Angeles. In the meantime, we will continue to provide you with further updates as they become available, so as to enable you and your groups to prepare for the LA meeting and further discussions with the IDN Variant Project staff. Thanks and cheers Mary Mary Wong Senior Policy Director Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN) Telephone: +1 603 574 4892 Email: mary.wong@icann.org