diff --git a/lollms/console.py b/lollms/console.py
index 015d1ee..f30de2e 100644
--- a/lollms/console.py
+++ b/lollms/console.py
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ Participating personalities:
     def stop_log(self):
         self.is_logging = False           
 
-
-
     def reset_context(self):
         if self.personality.include_welcome_message_in_disucssion:
             full_discussion = (
diff --git a/lollms/personality.py b/lollms/personality.py
index bb494a3..30a1952 100644
--- a/lollms/personality.py
+++ b/lollms/personality.py
@@ -180,12 +180,12 @@ Date: {{date}}
         if not config_file.exists():
             raise ValueError(f"The provided folder {package_path} does not exist.")
 
-        with open(config_file, "r") as f:
+        with open(config_file, "r", encoding='utf-8') as f:
             config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
         secret_file = package_path / "secret.yaml"
         if secret_file.exists():
-            with open(secret_file, "r") as f:
+            with open(secret_file, "r", encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 self._secret_cfg = yaml.safe_load(f)
         else:
             self._secret_cfg = None
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index bd5c640..a2d60eb 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def get_all_files(path):
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="lollms",
-    version="2.1.17",
+    version="2.1.18",
     author="Saifeddine ALOUI",
     author_email="aloui.saifeddine@gmail.com",
     description="A python library for AI personality definition",