diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 1dac084..9515a94 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Package: RKorAPClient
 Type: Package
 Title: 'KorAP' Web Service Client Package
-Version: 0.8.1.9000
+Version: 0.9.0
 Authors@R:
     c(person(given = "Marc",
              family = "Kupietz",
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 1fdc1a1..03fbba3 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
+# RKorAPClient 0.9.0
+
+- added citation hint, see `citation("RKorAPClient")`
+- added `matchStart` and `matchEnd` columns to `corpusQuery` results, that contain the start and end position of the match in the text
+- added function `mergeDuplicateCollocates` to merge collocation analysis results for different context positions
+- added a column `query` to collocation analysis results
+- fixed CRAN check notes on Rd `\link{}` targets missing package
+- fixed possible problems in `corpusStats` method
+- improved documentation for `span` parameter in collocation analysis functions
+- uses new metadata fields API in `textMetadata` method, if available, to retrieve also custom metadata for a text based on its sigle
+- uses new metadata fields API in `corpusQuery` method, if available
+
+
 # RKorAPClient 0.8.1
 
 - fixed R 4.4 compatibility of collocationAnalysis function
diff --git a/cran-comments.md b/cran-comments.md
index 5b10b1a..ff78eb6 100644
--- a/cran-comments.md
+++ b/cran-comments.md
@@ -1,5 +1,27 @@
 ## Notes
 
+* release with some new functions and internal changes that should not affect CRAN
+  compatibility
+* fixed CRAN check notes on Rd `\link{}` targets without package anchors
+
+```
+0 errors ✔ | 0 warnings ✔ | 0 notes ✔
+
+R CMD check succeeded
+```
+
+## Test environments
+
+* local Fedora 41 with R version 4.4.2
+* github workflow on Windows with R 4.4.2
+* github workflow on macOS 14.7.2 with R 4.4.2 for macOS (ARM64)
+* github workflow on Ubuntu with R 4.4.2
+* github workflow on Ubuntu with R 4.3.3
+* github workflow on Ubuntu with R Under development
+* win-builder workflow using R Under development (unstable) (2024-05-01 r86507 ucrt)
+
+#### Notes on 0.8.1
+
 * release with minor fixes to ensure R 4.4.0 compatibility
 
 ```