diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-maps-precompmesh.yml b/.github/workflows/check-maps-precompmesh.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..84c3f96e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-maps-precompmesh.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+name: '[test] check maps precompmesh'
+
+on:
+  push:
+    paths:
+    - 'maps/**.json'
+
+jobs:
+  check_maps_precompmesh:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Check precomputed mesh
+      run: python _ci/check_precompmesh.py
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-schema.yml b/.github/workflows/check-schema.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2dfc9b71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-schema.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+name: '[test] check schema'
+
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  check_schema:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    
+    - name: checkout siibra-python
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        repository: FZJ-INM1-BDA/siibra-python
+        path:  siibra-python-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_number }}
+        fetch-depth: 1
+        clean: True
+        ref: 'main'
+    
+    - name: move siibra-python one up from workspace
+      run: mv siibra-python-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_number }} ../siibra-python
+
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: pip install -r ../siibra-python/config_schema/requirements.txt
+  
+    - name: check schema
+      run: python ../siibra-python/config_schema/check_schema.py ./
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check_connectivity_json.yml b/.github/workflows/check_connectivity_json.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0bc73ba6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check_connectivity_json.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+name: '[test] check connectivity'
+
+on: 
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'features/connectivity/**/*.json'
+
+jobs:
+  check_connectivity_json:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+
+    - name: checkout siibra-python
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        repository: FZJ-INM1-BDA/siibra-python
+        path:  siibra-python-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_number }}
+        fetch-depth: 1
+        clean: True
+        ref: 'main'
+    
+    - name: move siibra-python one up from workspace
+      run: mv siibra-python-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_number }} ../siibra-python
+    
+    - name: Install siibra-python testing requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -r ../siibra-python/requirements-test.txt
+          pip install -r ../siibra-python/requirements.txt
+    
+    - name: connectivity e2e test
+      run: |
+        SIIBRA_USE_CONFIGURATION='./'
+        pytest ../siibra-python/e2e/features/connectivity/test_connectivity.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/push-to-mirror.yml b/.github/workflows/push-to-mirror.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63b018906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/push-to-mirror.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+name: '[mirror] push to mirror'
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ["master"]
+    tags: ["**"]
+
+env:
+  EBRAINS_GITLAB_HOST: ${{ vars.EBRAINS_GITLAB_HOST }}
+  EBRAINS_GITLAB_REPO: ri/tech-hub/apps/siibra/siibra-configurations-mirror.git
+
+jobs:
+  # n.b. we use access token, rather than https://github.com/valtech-sd/git-sync
+  # because it does not seem possible to add project wide ssh key
+  # and using personal key is not very flesible
+  push_to_mirror:
+    if: ${{ env.EBRAINS_GITLAB_HOST != '' }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment: gitlab_mirror
+    steps:
+    - name: before script
+      run: |
+        'which ssh-agent || ( apt-get update -y && apt-get install openssh-client -y )'
+        eval $(ssh-agent -s)
+        git config --global user.email "inm1-bda@fz-juelich.de"
+        git config --global user.name "inm1 bda - gitlab bot"
+        mkdir -p ~/.ssh
+        ssh-keyscan ${{ env.GITLAB_MIRROR_HOST }} >> gitlab-known-hosts
+        cat gitlab-known-hosts >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+
+    - name: script
+      run: |
+        git fetch --tags -f
+        git fetch origin master
+        if ! git ls-remote ebrains > /dev/null; then git remote add ebrains https://jugitpusher:${{ secrets.EBRAINS_GITLAB_PUSH_TOKEN }}@${{ env.GITLAB_MIRROR_HOST }}/${{ env.EBRAINS_GITLAB_REPO }}; fi
+        git push ebrains --tags -f
+        git push ebrains HEAD:master -f 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-checklist.yml b/.github/workflows/release-checklist.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8323f0b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-checklist.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+name: '[ci] release-checklist'
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags: ["**"]
+
+env:
+  RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG: release-checklist
+  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+  REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+  ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
+  TAG_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+
+jobs:
+
+  # workflow and siibra-python will likely break with tag including /
+  # workflow: see sed
+  # siibra-python: see reftag escaping
+  sanitiy-check:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - name: "checks tag does not contain slash"
+      run: |
+        echo ${{ env.TAG_NAME }} | grep -Fq "/" && exit 1 || exit 0
+
+  get-all-opened:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+    - sanitiy-check
+    if: success()
+    outputs:
+      OPEN_ISSUES: ${{ steps.get-all-issues.outputs.ALL_ISSUES }}
+    steps:
+    - name: 'Getting all opened issue matching ${{ env.RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG }} in ${{ env.REPO }}'
+      id: 'get-all-issues'
+      run: |
+        issue=$(gh issue list \
+          --repo ${{ env.REPO }} \
+          --label '${{ env.RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG }}' \
+          --json 'id,body,number,url,title')
+        echo Found:
+        echo $issue
+        echo "ALL_ISSUES=$issue" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+  
+  update-existing-body:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+    - get-all-opened
+    steps:
+    - run: |
+        OPEN_ISSUES=${{ needs.get-all-opened.outputs.OPEN_ISSUES }}
+        echo Found open issues: $OPEN_ISSUES
+        for issue in $(echo $OPEN_ISSUES | jq -c '.[]')
+        then
+          url=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.url')
+
+          new_issue_body=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.body' | sed '1s/master/${{ env.TAG_NAME }}/')
+          new_title=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.title' | sed 's/v???/${{ env.TAG_NAME }}/')
+
+          echo update issue $url
+          echo new_title=$new_title
+          echo new_issue_body: $new_issue_body
+
+          echo -e $new_issue_body | gh issue edit "$url" -F -
+        fi
+
+  add-comment-existing:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+    - get-all-opened
+    steps:
+    - run: |
+        OPEN_ISSUES=${{ needs.get-all-opened.outputs.OPEN_ISSUES }}
+        echo Found open issues: $OPEN_ISSUES
+        for issue in $(echo $OPEN_ISSUES | jq -c '.[]')
+        then
+          url=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.url')
+
+          echo $issue | jq -r '.body' | grep -Fq "<person name>"
+          validated=$(echo $?)
+          
+          new_comment="Thank you ${{ env.ACTOR }} for the release."
+          if [[ "$validated" != "0" ]]
+          then
+            new_comment="$new_comment\\n\\nCan you double check you have validated the release?"
+          fi
+          
+          echo update issue $url
+          echo -e new_comment: \\n\\n bar $new_comment
+          echo -e $new_comment | gh issue comment $url -F -
+        fi
+
+  close-existing:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+    - get-all-opened
+    steps:
+    - name: "Add comment to issue"
+      run: |
+        OPEN_ISSUES=${{ needs.get-all-opened.outputs.OPEN_ISSUES }}
+        echo Found open issues: $OPEN_ISSUES
+        for issue in $(echo $OPEN_ISSUES | jq -c '.[]')
+        then
+          id=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.id')
+          url=$(echo $issue | jq -r '.url')
+
+          gh issue close $url -r completed
+        fi
+
+  open-new:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+    - get-all-opened
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - run: |
+        new_issue=$(sed '1s/LATEST_TAG_PLACEHOLDER/${{ env.TAG_NAME }}/' release_checklist.md)
+
+        echo -e new_issue: $new_issue
+
+        echo -e new_issue | gh issue create \
+          -R ${{ env.REPO }} \
+          -l '${{ env.RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG }}' \
+          -t '[release checklist] v???' \
+          -F -
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-configuration.yml b/.github/workflows/test-configuration.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..85baf3a80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-configuration.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+name: '[test] test configuration'
+
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  check_jsons:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Verify json
+      run: python _ci/verify_json.py
+  
+  check_ebrains_id:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Verify EBRAINS IDs
+      run: python _ci/verify_ebrains_ids.py
+  
+  region_attr_compliance:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Region attribute compliance
+      run: python _ci/region_attr_compliance.py
+
+  check_map_volume_idx:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Verify map volume indices
+      run: python _ci/verify_volume_idx.py
+
+  check_maps:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: '3.10'
+    - name: Install requirements
+      run: |
+          pip install -U pip
+          pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
+    - name: Verify maps
+      run: python _ci/verify_maps.py
+
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.release-checklist.yml b/.gitlab-ci.release-checklist.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f0969b51..000000000
--- a/.gitlab-ci.release-checklist.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
-image: python:3.8
-
-variables:
-  RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG: release-checklist
-  RELEASE_TAG_ENV: '.latest-tag.env'
-  OPENED_IID_ENV: '.all-opened.env'
-
-stages:
-- collection
-- update
-- createnew
-
-.install-dep:
-  before_script: |
-    apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y jq
-    pip install requests
-
-get-latest-tag:
-  extends: .install-dep
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"
-  stage: collection
-  artifacts:
-    paths:
-    - $RELEASE_TAG_ENV
-  script: |
-    url="$CI_API_V4_URL/projects/$CI_PROJECT_ID/repository/tags"
-    echo "url: $url"
-    newest_tag=$(curl -s $url | jq -r ".[0].name")
-    echo "newest_tag $newest_tag"
-    echo "export NEWEST_TAG=$newest_tag" >> $RELEASE_TAG_ENV
-
-get-all-opened:
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"
-  stage: collection
-  extends: .install-dep
-  artifacts:
-    paths:
-    - $OPENED_IID_ENV
-  script: |
-    url="$CI_API_V4_URL/projects/$CI_PROJECT_ID/issues?labels=${RELEASE_CHECKLIST_TAG}&state=opened"
-    echo "url: $url"
-    all_issues_id=$(curl -s $url | jq -r ".[].iid")
-    echo "all_issues_id $all_issues_id"
-    echo "ALL_IID=$all_issues_id" >> $OPENED_IID_ENV
-
-close-existing-issues:
-  stage: update
-  extends: .install-dep
-  dependencies:
-  - get-all-opened
-  - get-latest-tag
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"
-  script: |
-    if [[ -z "$RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN" ]]
-    then
-      echo "RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN not set, terminating!"
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    cat $RELEASE_TAG_ENV
-    cat $OPENED_IID_ENV
-    
-    source $OPENED_IID_ENV
-    echo ALL_IID: $ALL_IID
-
-    for iid in $ALL_IID
-    do
-      url="$CI_API_V4_URL/projects/$CI_PROJECT_ID/issues/$iid"
-      echo Closing issue id: $iid with url: $url
-      curl -v -XPUT -H "PRIVATE-TOKEN: $RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN" ${url}?state_event=close
-    done
-
-open-new-issue:
-  stage: createnew
-  extends: .install-dep
-  dependencies:
-  - get-latest-tag
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"
-  script: |
-    if [[ -z "$RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN" ]]
-    then
-      echo "RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN not set, terminating!"
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    cat $RELEASE_TAG_ENV
-    source $RELEASE_TAG_ENV 
-    python ./_ci/create_new_issue.py
-    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index f18567810..000000000
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,210 +0,0 @@
-image: python:3.8
-stages:
-  - test
-  - git-robot
-
-.checkout_siibra:
-  variables:
-    SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH: $CI_BUILDS_DIR/$CI_CONCURRENT_ID/siibra-python
-    SIIBRA_PYTHON_BRANCH: main
-    GIT_DEPTH: 1
-  before_script: |
-    echo "[DEVELOP BUILD] Using $SIIBRA_PYTHON_BRANCH branch. In prod, use main branch instead."
-    rm -rf $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH
-    git clone -v -b $SIIBRA_PYTHON_BRANCH \
-      https://github.com/FZJ-INM1-BDA/siibra-python.git \
-      $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH
-    git -C $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH log -n 1
-    
-
-.install_requirement:
-  before_script: |
-    pip install -U pip
-    pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
-
-ci:checklist:generate-update:
-  only:
-  - tags
-  trigger:
-    include:
-    - local: .gitlab-ci.release-checklist.yml
-    strategy: depend
-
-ci:test:check_connectivity_json:
-  # only check connectivity json if connectivity json files are changed
-  # pipeline source needs to be set to merge request event, or else it will trigger everytime
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
-    changes:
-    - features/connectivity/**/*.json
-  extends: .checkout_siibra
-  stage: test
-  script: |
-    pip install -r $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/requirements-test.txt
-    pip install -r $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/requirements.txt
-    SIIBRA_USE_CONFIGURATION=$PWD pytest $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/e2e/features/connectivity/test_connectivity.py
-
-ci:test:check_schema:
-  extends: .checkout_siibra
-  stage: test
-  script: |
-    pip install -r $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/config_schema/requirements.txt
-    echo python $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/config_schema/check_schema.py $PWD
-    git -C $PWD log -n 1
-    python $SIIBRA_PYTHON_PATH/config_schema/check_schema.py $PWD
-
-ci:test:check_jsons:
-  stage: test
-  script: python _ci/verify_json.py
-
-ci:test:check_ebrains_id:
-  stage: test
-  extends: .install_requirement
-  script: python _ci/verify_ebrains_ids.py
-
-ci:test:check_map_volume_idx:
-  stage: test
-  script: |
-    python _ci/verify_volume_idx.py
-
-ci:test:region_attr_compliance:
-  stage: test
-  script:
-    - python ./_ci/region_attr_compliance.py
-
-ci:test:check_maps:
-  stage: test
-  script: python _ci/verify_maps.py
-
-ci:test:check_maps_precompmesh:
-  stage: test
-  rules:
-  - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
-    changes:
-    - maps/*.json
-  script: |
-    pip install -U pip
-    pip install -r _ci/requirements.txt
-    python _ci/check_precompmesh.py
-
-mirror:push_to_mirror:
-  stage: git-robot
-  only:
-    - master
-    - tags
-  before_script:
-    - 'which ssh-agent || ( apt-get update -y && apt-get install openssh-client -y )'
-    - eval $(ssh-agent -s)
-    - git config --global user.email "inm1-bda@fz-juelich.de"
-    - git config --global user.name "inm1 bda - gitlab bot"
-    - mkdir -p ~/.ssh
-
-    # add $GITLAB_MIRROR_HOST to known hosts
-    - ssh-keyscan $GITLAB_MIRROR_HOST >> gitlab-known-hosts
-    - cat gitlab-known-hosts >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts
-  script:
-    # fetch all tags (potentially overwriting local tags to avoid clobbering)
-    - git fetch --tags -f
-    - git fetch origin master
-
-    # add remote mirror
-    - if ! git ls-remote ebrains > /dev/null; then git remote add ebrains https://jugitpusher:${GITLAB_MIRROR_TOKEN}@${GITLAB_MIRROR_HOST}/${GITLAB_MIRROR_REPO_PATH}; fi
-
-    # push all tags and master to remote mirror
-    - git push ebrains --tags -f
-    - git push ebrains HEAD:master -f # https://forum.gitlab.com/t/src-refspec-master-does-not-match-any/24691/16
-
-
-.okd-pre:
-  stage: git-robot
-  rules:
-  - if: $OKD_JSC_ENDPOINT == null || $OKD_JSC_TOKEN == null
-    when: never
-  - if: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "master"
-    changes:
-    - "**/*.json"
-  before_script:
-  - apt-get update && apt-get install -y jq
-  - wget https://github.com/openshift/origin/releases/download/v3.11.0/openshift-origin-client-tools-v3.11.0-0cbc58b-linux-64bit.tar.gz
-  - tar xzf openshift-origin-client-tools-v3.11.0-0cbc58b-linux-64bit.tar.gz
-  - "export PATH=$PATH:$PWD/openshift-origin-client-tools-v3.11.0-0cbc58b-linux-64bit"
-  - oc login https://okd.jsc.hbp.eu:443 --token $OKD_JSC_TOKEN
-  - oc project siibra-api
-
-deploy:okd:sync_to_okd:
-  extends: .okd-pre
-  script:
-  - echo "Get one of the worker pod"
-  - WORKING_POD=$(oc get pods -l app_role=worker,flavor=rc --output json | jq -r '.items[0].metadata.name')
-  - echo "Got $WORKING_POD"
-  - echo "Fetch and merge with ff only"
-  - oc exec $WORKING_POD -- git -C /siibra-api-volume/brainscapes-configurations/ fetch
-  - oc exec $WORKING_POD -- git -C /siibra-api-volume/brainscapes-configurations/ merge --ff-only
-
-deploy:okd:restart_server_pod:
-  extends: .okd-pre
-  needs:
-  - deploy:okd:sync_to_okd
-  script: |
-    oc rollout latest dc/siibra-api-server-rc
-
-deploy:okd:get_api_queues:
-  extends: .okd-pre # does not actually need to extend, but easier to manage stage etc...
-  variables:
-    SIIBRA_API_PATH: $CI_BUILDS_DIR/$CI_CONCURRENT_ID/siibra-api
-    SIIBRA_API_BRANCH: master
-    GIT_DEPTH: 1
-  before_script: |
-    echo "[DEVELOP BUILD] Using $SIIBRA_API_BRANCH branch. In prod, use main branch instead."
-    rm -rf $SIIBRA_API_PATH
-    git clone -v -b $SIIBRA_API_BRANCH \
-      https://github.com/FZJ-INM1-BDA/siibra-api.git \
-      $SIIBRA_API_PATH
-    git -C $SIIBRA_API_PATH log -n 1
-  script: |
-    queues=$(cd $SIIBRA_API_PATH && python -c 'import api.siibra_api_config as cfg; print(" ".join([f"{q}" for q in cfg._queues]))')
-    echo Extracted queues: $queues
-    echo "QUEUES=$queues" >> build.env
-
-  artifacts:
-    reports:
-      dotenv: build.env
-
-deploy:okd:start_new_worker_pods:
-  extends: .okd-pre
-  needs:
-  - job: deploy:okd:sync_to_okd
-  - job: deploy:okd:get_api_queues
-    artifacts: true
-  script: |
-    SHORT_REV=$(git rev-parse --short=6 HEAD)
-    API_VERSION=c.$SHORT_REV
-    echo Inherited queues: $QUEUES
-    for queue in $QUEUES
-    do
-      echo "Processing $queue"
-      existing=$(oc get dc -l app_role=worker,queue_name=$queue,siibraapi_version=$API_VERSION --output json | jq '.items | length')
-      echo "Found $existing existing dc..."
-      if [[ "$existing" == "0" ]]
-      then
-        echo "No DC found... deploying new app..."
-
-        oc new-app --template=siibra-api-v5-worker-template \
-          --param SIIBRA_API_VERSION=$API_VERSION \
-          --param FLAVOR=rc \
-          --param QUEUE_NAME=$queue \
-          --param SIIBRA_API_WORKER_IMAGE=docker-registry.ebrains.eu/siibra/siibra-api:rc-worker
-
-        echo "Setting env var to dc"
-        oc get dc -l "siibraapi_version=$API_VERSION,queue_name=$queue"
-        oc set env dc -l "siibraapi_version=$API_VERSION,queue_name=$queue" SIIBRA_USE_CONFIGURATION=/siibra-api-volume/brainscapes-configurations
-      else
-        echo "$existing DC found, skipping..."
-      fi
-    done
-
-    echo "Printing all overdue resources..."
-    oc get dc -l app_role=worker,flavor=rc,siibraapi_version!=$API_VERSION
-    echo "Deleting all overdue resources..."
-    oc delete dc -l app_role=worker,flavor=rc,siibraapi_version!=$API_VERSION --wait=false
-
diff --git a/_ci/create_new_issue.py b/_ci/create_new_issue.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 3de02c317..000000000
--- a/_ci/create_new_issue.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-import requests
-import os
-
-TITLE = "[release checklist] v???"
-LABELS = ["release-checklist"]
-BODY_TMPL = """see diff: https://jugit.fz-juelich.de/t.dickscheid/brainscapes-configurations/-/compare/{latest_tag}...master?from_project_id=3484&straight=false
-
-see viewer link: https://siibra-explorer-rc.apps.jsc.hbp.eu/
-
-Generated checklist
-
-| name | validator | validation | 
-| --- | --- | --- |
-| | | |
-"""
-
-def main():
-    token = os.getenv("RELEASE_CHECKLIST_CI_TOKEN")
-    latest_tag = os.getenv("NEWEST_TAG")
-    print("NEWEST_TAG:", latest_tag)
-
-    v4_api = os.getenv("CI_API_V4_URL")
-    ci_project_id = os.getenv("CI_PROJECT_ID")
-
-    url = f"{v4_api}/projects/{ci_project_id}/issues"
-    print("url: {url!r}")
-    requests.post(url, headers={
-        "PRIVATE-TOKEN": token
-    }, params={
-        "title": TITLE,
-        "labels": ",".join(LABELS),
-        "description": BODY_TMPL.format(latest_tag=latest_tag)
-    })
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    main()
diff --git a/features/connectivity/regional/tracing/37258979-8b9f-4817-9d83-f009019a6c38_rat_tracing_connectivity.json b/features/connectivity/regional/tracing/37258979-8b9f-4817-9d83-f009019a6c38_rat_tracing_connectivity.json
index 56a26b8a7..e720bcb61 100644
--- a/features/connectivity/regional/tracing/37258979-8b9f-4817-9d83-f009019a6c38_rat_tracing_connectivity.json
+++ b/features/connectivity/regional/tracing/37258979-8b9f-4817-9d83-f009019a6c38_rat_tracing_connectivity.json
@@ -226,4 +226,4 @@
 		"Inferior olive"
 	],
 	"files_indexed_by": "subject"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/release_checklist.md b/release_checklist.md
index 74e945e6d..e70d480be 100644
--- a/release_checklist.md
+++ b/release_checklist.md
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
-
-
-See [diff](https://jugit.fz-juelich.de/t.dickscheid/brainscapes-configurations/-/compare/LATEST_TAG_PH...master?from_project_id=3484&straight=false)
-
-See [viewer link](https://siibra-explorer-rc.apps.jsc.hbp.eu/)
+See [diff](https://github.com/FZJ-INM1-BDA/siibra-configurations/compare/LATEST_TAG_PLACEHOLDER...master)
 
 Please document all deltas and validation: