diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 7ed00a015..26228b242 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.4.5 (unreleased)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+
+  Release-info: https://dev.gnupg.org/T6960
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.4.4 (2024-01-25)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 26d7f7b55..ac4f08c12 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ min_automake_version="1.16.3"
 m4_define([mym4_package],[gnupg])
 m4_define([mym4_major], [2])
 m4_define([mym4_minor], [4])
-m4_define([mym4_micro], [4])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [5])
 
 # To start a new development series, i.e a new major or minor number
 # you need to mark an arbitrary commit before the first beta release