- KCM specific args can be passed with `/cluster` script, without affecting CCM. New variable name: `KUBE_CONTROLLER_MANAGER_TEST_ARGS`. ([#120524](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120524), [@jprzychodzen](https://github.com/jprzychodzen)) [SIG Cloud Provider]

  which was already started in https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/109706
  Specifically, we will now reduce the amount of syncs for `ETP=local` services even
  further in the CCM and avoid re-configuring LBs to an even greater extent. ([#111658](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/111658), [@alexanderConstantinescu](https://github.com/alexanderConstantinescu))

- JSON logging format is no longer available by default in non-core Kubernetes Components...

- Metric `running_managed_controllers` is enabled for Route,Service and Cloud Node controllers in KCM and CCM. ([#111462](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/111462), [@jprzychodzen](https://github.com/jprzychodzen))

### Bug or Regression

- A node IP provided to kublet via `--node-ip` will now be preferred for when determining the node's primary IP and using the external cloud provider (CCM). ([#107750](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/107750), [@stephenfin](https://github.com/stephenfin))