- `RetroactiveDefaultStorageClass` feature made stable and enabled by default. ([#118102](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/118102), [@RomanBednar](https://github.com/RomanBednar))

- Made `apiextensions-apiserver` binary linking static (also affects the deb and rpm packages). ([#114226](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/114226), [@saschagrunert](https://github.com/saschagrunert))

- Added alpha-level support for the SuccessPolicy in Jobs.
   ([#123412](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/123412), [@tenzen-y](https://github.com/tenzen-y))
- Added the `CEL` library for IP Addresses and CIDRs. This was made available for use starting from version `1.31`.
   ([#121912](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/121912), [@JoelSpeed](https://github.com/JoelSpeed))

- `kubeadm`: will now allow deploying a kubelet that is 3 versions older than the version of `kubeadm` (N-3). This aligns with the recent change made by SIG Architecture that extends the support skew between the control plane and kubelets. Tolerate this new kubelet skew for the commands `init`, `join` and `upgrade`. Note that if the `kubeadm` user applies a control plane version that is older than...