diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 08e5f880f..325305a7c 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.2.44 (unreleased)
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+
+  Release-info: https://dev.gnupg.org/T7087
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.2.43 (2024-04-16)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6d1e2ba76..0802b1c57 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], [2])
-m4_define([mym4_micro], [43])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [44])
 
 # 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