diff --git a/.prev-version b/.prev-version
index 592f36ef3..c026ac828 100644
--- a/.prev-version
+++ b/.prev-version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-9.5
+9.6
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 3799f7505..9be61e4c4 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 GNU coreutils NEWS                                    -*- outline -*-
 
+* Noteworthy changes in release ?.? (????-??-??) [?]
+
+
 * Noteworthy changes in release 9.6 (2025-01-17) [stable]
 
 ** Bug fixes
diff --git a/cfg.mk b/cfg.mk
index 737361b49..bafee5990 100644
--- a/cfg.mk
+++ b/cfg.mk
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export VERBOSE = yes
 # 4914152 9e
 export XZ_OPT = -8e
 
-old_NEWS_hash = 853a6f5bc2e9d25346d494bef9eaf8a3
+old_NEWS_hash = be5016485c56f34b60ba4e6d3b407489
 
 # Add an exemption for sc_makefile_at_at_check.
 _makefile_at_at_check_exceptions = \