+# Ensure the current branch name is correct:
+curr_br=$(git rev-parse --symbolic-full-name HEAD)
+test "$curr_br" = refs/heads/$branch || die not on branch $branch
+
+# Extract package name from Makefile.
+Makefile=$builddir/Makefile
+pkg=$(sed -n 's/^PACKAGE = \(.*\)/\1/p' "$Makefile") \
+ || die "failed to determine package name from $Makefile"
+
+# Check that line 3 of NEWS is the stub line about to be replaced.
+test "$(sed -n 3p NEWS)" = "$noteworthy_stub" \
+ || die "line 3 of NEWS must be exactly '$noteworthy_stub'"
+
+## --------------- ##
+## Then, changes. ##
+## --------------- ##
+
+# Update NEWS to have today's date, plus desired version number and $type.