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<div style="width: 738px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.icann.org/"><img alt="ICANN" src="http://www.icann.org/images/gradlogo_bow.jpg" style="border: 0px; width: 94px; height: 94px; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px;"></a>
<h2>News Alert</h2>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-01-30-en">https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-01-30-en</a></p>
<hr style="margin: 20px 0px 0px 0px;">
<h2 style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px;">Third Face-to-Face Meeting for the Task Force on Arabic Script IDNs (TF-AIDN) to Convene in Singapore</h2>
<p style="margin: 15px 0px 0px 0px;">30 January 2015</p>
<p><strong>When:</strong> February 6-8, 2015<br>
<strong>Where:</strong> Raffles City Convention Center, Singapore (Room "Fullerton")</p>
<div class="floatcenter" style="width: 468px;"><a href="https:/www.icann.org/sites/default/files/assets/tf-aidn-468x268-22mar14-en.jpg"><img src="https:/www.icann.org/sites/default/files/assets/tf-aidn-468x268-22mar14-en.jpg" style="width: 468px; height: 268px;" alt="Group photo of the Task Force on Arabic Script IDNs group"></a>
<p>Members of the TF-AIDN at the First F2F Meeting in Singapore during March 20-22, 2014</p>
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<h3>Background</h3>
<p>Since the second Face-to-Face meeting of the TF-AIDN in Istanbul, Turkey last June, the group has been working on several fronts related to Arabic Script IDNs including scrutinizing the code point repertoire and defining variant code points for the proposal
for Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR) and the Universal Acceptance of Arabic script IDNs. The third face-to-face meeting in Singapore will conclude the work covering topics such as the Arabic Script Code Point Repertoire, Code Point Variants, Variant
Disposition, Whole Label Evaluation Rules and the XML Representation of the Data, all in the context of finalizing the proposal for the Arabic script for the Root Zone LGR. The group will also discuss the next steps to be taken like addressing the Universal
Acceptance of Arabic script IDNs.</p>
<p>Though the meeting is closed, observers are welcome to attend.</p>
<p>Ten members of the group will be in Singapore, and in addition to the meeting, they are expected to interact at various IDN related sessions with the community.</p>
<h3>Agenda</h3>
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<p><strong>Friday February 6 (Day I)</strong></p>
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<p>8.45 – 9.00</p>
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<td>
<p>Opening Remarks</p>
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<p>9.00 – 10.30</p>
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<p>Review of Current Status</p>
</td>
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<td>
<p>10.30 – 11.00</p>
</td>
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<p>Coffee Break</p>
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<td>
<p>11.00 – 12.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Code Point Repertoire</p>
<p>Review of Write-up for Code Point Repertoire</p>
</td>
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<p>12.30 – 13.30</p>
</td>
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<p>Lunch Break</p>
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<p>13.30 – 15.00</p>
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<p>Variant Analysis</p>
<p>Review of Write-up on Variant Analysis</p>
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<p>15.00 – 15.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Coffee Break</p>
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<td>
<p>15.30 – 17.00</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Variant Disposition (Allocatable vs. Blocked)</p>
</td>
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<td colspan="2">
<p><strong>Saturday February 7 (Day II)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>9.00 – 10.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Variant Disposition – cont.</p>
<p>Review of Write-up on Variant Disposition</p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
<p>10.30 – 11.00</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Coffee Break</p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
<p>11.00 – 12.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Whole Label Evaluation Rules</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>12.30 – 13.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Lunch Break</p>
</td>
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<td>
<p>13.30 – 15.00</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Whole Label Evaluation Rules</p>
<p>XML Document</p>
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<td>
<p>15.00 – 15.30</p>
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<td>
<p>Coffee Break</p>
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<td>
<p>15.30 – 17.00</p>
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<td>
<p>XML Document</p>
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<td colspan="2">
<p><strong>Sunday February 8 (Day III)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>9.00 – 10.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Review the Complete Document for Submission</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>10.30 – 11.00</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Coffee Break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>11.00 – 12.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Preparation of Presentations for Singapore Community Interaction</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>12.30 – 13.30</p>
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<td>
<p>Lunch Break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>13.30 – 15.00</p>
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<td>
<p>Open House</p>
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<td>
<p>15.00 – 15.30</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Coffee Break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>15.30 – 17.00</p>
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<p>Next Steps (Universal Acceptance; Second Level LGRs, etc.)</p>
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</tbody>
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<h3>About the Middle East Strategy Working Group (MESWG)</h3>
<p>The Middle East Strategy Working Group (MESWG) is an ad-hoc group of Internet experts from the region the strategy covers; i.e. the 22 Arab States, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (collectively defined as "The Region"). The working group consists of 20 experts
from 11 countries of the region. ICANN has coordinated the formation of the working group, and provides all the necessary support to drive its mandate forward. ICANN's strategic goals for its engagement in the region are to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Foster two-way engagement between ICANN and the broader Internet community in the region;
</li><li>Build strong and competitive domain name industry in the region; and </li><li>Promote multi-stakeholder Internet governance mechanisms in the region. </li></ol>
<p>These goals are divided into three strategic focus areas, namely: DNS Security and Stability, Domain Name Industry, and Internet Governance Ecosystem.</p>
<p>More on the MESWG can be found online at <a href="https://community.icann.org/display/MES/Middle+East+Working+Group">
https://community.icann.org/display/MES/Middle+East+Working+Group</a>.</p>
<h3>About the Task Force on Arabic Script IDNs (TF-AIDN)</h3>
<p>TF-AIDN is an initiative of MESWG which focuses on technical issues and solutions to promote Arabic Script IDNs; this includes their definition, secure deployment, and ease of use for the community. The current technical matters include the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Arabic Script Label Generation Ruleset (LGR) for the Root Zone; </li><li>Second level LGRs for the Arabic script; </li><li>Arabic script Internationalized Registration Data Protocol and Practice; </li><li>Universal acceptability of Arabic script IDNs and variants; </li><li>Technical challenges around registration of Arabic IDNs and variants; </li><li>Operational software for Arabic script IDN registry and registrar operations;
</li><li>DNS security matters specifically related to Arabic IDNs and variants; and </li><li>Technical training material around Arabic script IDNs </li></ul>
<p>Membership to join the TF-AIDN is always open. Those interested to join the task force on voluntary basis should email their CV and Statement of Interest (SOI) to
<a href="mailto:tf-aidnadmin@meswg.org">tf-aidnadmin@meswg.org</a>.</p>
<p>More on the TF-AIDN can be found online at <a href="https://community.icann.org/display/MES/TF-AIDN+Work+Space">
https://community.icann.org/display/MES/TF-AIDN+Work+Space</a>.</p>
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