diff --git a/.prev-version b/.prev-version
index 8a1c8a475..8b61d0732 100644
--- a/.prev-version
+++ b/.prev-version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.27
+8.28
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index d255ab67e..8be22f169 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 GNU coreutils NEWS                                    -*- outline -*-
 
+* Noteworthy changes in release ?.? (????-??-??) [?]
+
+
 * Noteworthy changes in release 8.28 (2017-09-01) [stable]
 
 ** Bug fixes
diff --git a/cfg.mk b/cfg.mk
index b6f2c6f9b..4c5c88032 100644
--- a/cfg.mk
+++ b/cfg.mk
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export VERBOSE = yes
 # 4914152 9e
 export XZ_OPT = -8e
 
-old_NEWS_hash = fbfecedc8eaff3d296b43a9f1db2a269
+old_NEWS_hash = 0c14d8be06bfd7cc0024b7d39fdd6e1e
 
 # Add an exemption for sc_makefile_at_at_check.
 _makefile_at_at_check_exceptions = ' && !/^cu_install_prog/ && !/dynamic-dep/'