Starting today, GitHub users can close issues in different repositories using commit messages, a feature that builds on the existing ability to close issues via commit messages within the same repository network. By including a phrase like “fixes user/repo#45” in your commit message, and having the permission to push to the relevant repository, you can automatically close the referenced issue, even if the issue and commit are not in the same repository network. This update is particularly beneficial for users operating with issues-only repositories, streamlining the bug-fixing process across multiple repositories.