diff --git a/.github/workflows/update_allCountries.yml b/.github/workflows/update_allCountries.yml
index 2a32d62..d7833fe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update_allCountries.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update_allCountries.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ on:
     - cron: '0 0 * * 0'  # Run every Sunday at midnight UTC
   workflow_dispatch:  # Allow manual triggering
 
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+  issues: write
+  pull-requests: write
+
 jobs:
   update-geonames:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -29,19 +34,17 @@ jobs:
       id: release_notes
       run: |
         RELEASE_NOTES=$(cat release_notes.txt)
-        echo "RELEASE_NOTES<<EOF" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        echo "$RELEASE_NOTES" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        echo "EOF" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        echo "RELEASE_NOTES<<EOF" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        echo "$RELEASE_NOTES" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+        echo "EOF" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
     - name: Create Release
       id: create_release
       uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
-      env:
-        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       with:
         tag_name: release-${{ github.run_number }}
         name: Release ${{ github.run_number }}
-        body: ${{ env.RELEASE_NOTES }}
+        body: ${{ steps.release_notes.outputs.RELEASE_NOTES }}
         files: allCountries.zip
         draft: false
         prerelease: false