* Ensures the conformance test image saves results before exiting when ginkgo returns non-zero value. ([#76039](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/76039), [@johnSchnake](https://github.com/johnSchnake))

- kubeadm: removed the deprecated flag `--experimental-output`, please use the flag `--output` instead that serves the same purpose. Affected commands are: `kubeadm config images list`, `kubeadm token list`, `kubeadm upgrade plan`, `kubeadm certs check-expiration`. ([#126914](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/126914), [@carlory](https://github.com/carlory))...

- Sped up kubelet start time by executing an immediate runtime and node status update when the Kubelet sees that it has a CIDR. ([#67031](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/67031), [@krzysztof-jastrzebski](https://github.com/krzysztof-jastrzebski))

- Reduce the number of calls to docker for stats via dockershim. For Windows this reduces the latency when calling docker, for Linux this saves cpu cycles. ([#104287](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/104287), [@jsturtevant](https://github.com/jsturtevant)) [SIG Node and Windows]

the body of any nested function.
</p>


<h3 id="Blank_identifier">Blank identifier</h3>

<p>
The <i>blank identifier</i> is represented by the underscore character <code>_</code>.
It serves as an anonymous placeholder instead of a regular (non-blank)
identifier and has special meaning in <a href="#Declarations_and_scope">declarations</a>,

- 'kubeadm: marked the flag "--experimental-output'' as deprecated (it will
  be removed in a future release) and added a new flag ''--output" that serves the
  same purpose. Affected commands are - "kubeadm config images list", "kubeadm token

## What’s New (Major Themes)

### Cloud Provider Labels reach General Availability

Added as a beta feature way back in v1.2, v1.17 sees the general availability of cloud provider labels.

### Volume Snapshot Moves to Beta

* Fixes an issue with kubelet-reported pod status on deleted/recreated pods. ([#86320](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/86320), [@liggitt](https://github.com/liggitt))
* kube-apiserver no longer serves the following deprecated APIs: ([#85903](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/85903), [@liggitt](https://github.com/liggitt))
  * All resources under `apps/v1beta1` and `apps/v1beta2` - use `apps/v1` instead

### CSI Volume health monitoring
 

- The in-tree Azure plugin has been deprecated. The Azure kubelogin plugin serves as an out-of-tree replacement via the kubectl/client-go credential plugin mechanism.  Users will now see a warning in the logs regarding this deprecation. ([#107904](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/107904), [@sabbey37](https://github.com/sabbey37))...