Dear all, During the ICANN meeting in London, a small group of GNSO Council and community members met with the ICANN Board¹s IDN Variant Working Group and ICANN operational staff working on ICANN¹s IDN Variant Program. Staff were asked for an update on progress with implementing the recommendations made by the Joint ccNSO-GNSO IDN Working Group (JIG). Attached please find a progress report from the IDN Variant Program staff, highlighting in particular the recent publication by ICANN of a proposed initial Roadmap for Universal Acceptance. The reply comment period for the Roadmap is open till 8 August, and GNSO community members and groups are encouraged to put in your comments so that further concrete processes and proposals for achieving universal acceptance of all TLDs (including IDNs) can be put in place: https://www.icann.org/public-comments/tld-acceptance-initiative-2014-06-18-e n We will provide additional requested updates as we receive them, and the IDN Variant Program staff will also be providing its regular update to the GNSO at the LA meeting in October. 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