diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 9ded3ef..5159598 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+## v1.16.0 released on 21 Apr 2024 UTC
+  * eb280ac0863ad9b6cd8257a9d618d69ab48596de corrected branch for CI
 ## v1.15.0 released on 09 Apr 2024 UTC
   * ed1b44c494b620caf78d4fffc0a639120f31328e corrected the logging
 ## v1.14.0 released on 28 Nov 2023 UTC
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 6af1210..d002c23 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "tech.harmonysoft"
-version = "1.15.0"
+version = "1.16.0"
 
 kotlin {
     jvmToolchain(8)