- CustomResourceDefinition schemas that use `x-kubernetes-list-map-keys` to specify properties that uniquely identify list items must make those properties required or have a default value, to ensure those properties are present for all list items. See https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/using-api/api-concepts/#merge-strategy for details. ([#88076](https://git...

- Change GCP ILB firewall names to contain the `k8s-fw-` prefix like the rest of the firewall rules. This is needed for consistency and also for other components to identify the firewall rule as k8s/service-controller managed. ([#84622](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/84622), [@prameshj](https://github.com/prameshj))

- Kube-apiserver now maintains a Lease object to identify itself: 
  - The feature is under feature gate `APIServerIdentity`. 
  - Two flags are added to kube-apiserver: `identity-lease-duration-seconds`, `identity-lease-renew-interval-seconds` ([#95533](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/95533), [@roycaihw](https://github.com/roycaihw)) [SIG API Machinery]

- The iptables mode of kube-proxy now tracks accepted packets that are destined for node-ports on localhost by introducing `kubeproxy_iptables_localhost_nodeports_accepted_packets_total` metric.

- 'Promoted the `APIServerIdentity` feature to Beta. By default, each `kube-apiserver`
  will now create a Lease in the `kube-system` namespace. These lease objects can
  be used to identify the number of active API servers in the cluster, and may also
  be used for future features such as the Storage Version API.'

  * Strategic Merge Patch

    * Reference docs now display the patch type and patch merge key used by `kubectl apply` to merge and identify unique elements in arrays.

      * `kubectl edit` and `kubectl apply` will keep the ordering of elements in merged lists ([#45980](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/45980), [@mengqiy](https://github.com/mengqiy))

## Changelog since v1.15.6

### Other notable changes

* Change GCP ILB firewall names to contain the "k8s-fw-" prefix like the rest of the firewall rules. This is needed for consistency and also for other components to identify the firewall rule as k8s/service-controller managed. ([#84622](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/84622), [@prameshj](https://github.com/prameshj))

## Changelog since v1.12.0-beta.2

### Action Required

* Service events are now added in azure-cloud-provider for easily identify the underground errors of Azure API. ([#68212](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/68212), [@feiskyer](https://github.com/feiskyer))
    * Action required: The following clusterrole and clusterrolebinding should be applied:

* Change GCP ILB firewall names to contain the "k8s-fw-" prefix like the rest of the firewall rules. This is needed for consistency and also for other components to identify the firewall rule as k8s/service-controller managed. ([#84622](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/84622), [@prameshj](https://github.com/prameshj))

* You now have the ability to quota resources by priority....