diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 556a526..c52b353 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Package: SwissASR
 Title: Automated Completion of the SwissEthics Annual Safety Report
-Version: 0.5.2
+Version: 0.5.3
 Authors@R: 
     c(person(given = "Alan G.",
            family = "Haynes",
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index fe15e73..5f28ee8 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# SwissASR 0.5.3
+
+* better handling of dates in metadata
+
 # SwissASR 0.5.2
 
 * Correction of template inputs, dates formatting and additional note for SAEs tables.