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Non-Latin web addresses approved

Russian domains are идти

ICANN has voted, as predicted, in favour of non-Latin web addresses.

The move means that from 16 November countries can apply for extensions in their own languages. And if approved local domain registrars can start accepting registrations.

Peter Dengate Thrush, ICANN's chairman, said: "Right now Internet address endings are limited to Latin characters – A to Z. But the Fast Track Process is the first step in bringing the 100,000 characters of the languages of the world online for domain names."

The change covers the last part of the address - after the dot in dot-com. So the local bodies responsible for the likes of .kr and .ru will soon be able to apply for domain names in their own languages.

Other discussions at the meeting centred on cybersecurity and keeping the domain name system secure, and early discussions on accountability following the renewal of the agreement between ICANN and the US government.

Full statement is available from here. ®

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