diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.ts b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
index abb5c41..03efb8a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -384,11 +384,17 @@ export async function getBriefingFeeds(): Promise<BriefingFeed[]> {
   return data;
 }
 
-export async function createBriefingFeed(url: string): Promise<BriefingFeed> {
-  const data = await apiPost<{ id: number; url: string; title: string; category: string | null }>('/api/briefing/feeds', { url });
+export async function createBriefingFeed(url: string, category?: string): Promise<BriefingFeed> {
+  const body: Record<string, string> = { url };
+  if (category?.trim()) body.category = category.trim();
+  const data = await apiPost<{ id: number; url: string; title: string; category: string | null }>('/api/briefing/feeds', body);
   return { ...data, last_fetched_at: null };
 }
 
+export async function refreshBriefingFeeds(): Promise<{ feeds_refreshed: number; new_items: number }> {
+  return apiPost('/api/briefing/feeds/refresh', {});
+}
+
 export async function deleteBriefingFeed(id: number): Promise<void> {
   await apiDelete(`/api/briefing/feeds/${id}`);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue b/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
index c1c2de5..1fefc0a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/ProjectView.vue
@@ -209,6 +209,30 @@ async function loadTasks() {
   }
 }
 
+const advancingTaskId = ref<number | null>(null);
+
+const taskStatusNext: Record<string, string> = {
+  todo: "in_progress",
+  in_progress: "done",
+};
+
+async function advanceTaskStatus(task: NoteItem, e: Event) {
+  e.preventDefault();
+  e.stopPropagation();
+  const next = taskStatusNext[task.status ?? ""];
+  if (!next || advancingTaskId.value === task.id) return;
+  advancingTaskId.value = task.id;
+  try {
+    await apiPatch(`/api/notes/${task.id}`, { status: next });
+    const idx = tasks.value.findIndex((t) => t.id === task.id);
+    if (idx !== -1) tasks.value[idx] = { ...tasks.value[idx], status: next };
+  } catch {
+    toast.show("Failed to update task", "error");
+  } finally {
+    advancingTaskId.value = null;
+  }
+}
+
 async function loadNotes() {
   notesLoading.value = true;
   try {
@@ -475,9 +499,17 @@ async function confirmDelete() {
                         :class="['task-card', `pri-${task.priority || 'none'}`]"
                       >
                         <span class="task-title">{{ task.title || "Untitled" }}</span>
-                        <div v-if="task.priority !== 'none' || task.due_date" class="task-meta">
-                          <span v-if="task.priority && task.priority !== 'none'" :class="['priority-dot', `dot-pri-${task.priority}`]" :title="task.priority"></span>
-                          <span v-if="task.due_date" class="due-date">{{ task.due_date }}</span>
+                        <div class="task-card-footer">
+                          <div v-if="task.priority !== 'none' || task.due_date" class="task-meta">
+                            <span v-if="task.priority && task.priority !== 'none'" :class="['priority-dot', `dot-pri-${task.priority}`]" :title="task.priority"></span>
+                            <span v-if="task.due_date" class="due-date">{{ task.due_date }}</span>
+                          </div>
+                          <button
+                            class="task-advance-btn"
+                            title="Move to In Progress"
+                            :disabled="advancingTaskId === task.id"
+                            @click="advanceTaskStatus(task, $event)"
+                          >→</button>
                         </div>
                       </router-link>
                       <p v-if="!group.tasks.filter(t => t.status === 'todo').length" class="col-empty">No tasks</p>
@@ -498,9 +530,17 @@ async function confirmDelete() {
                         :class="['task-card', `pri-${task.priority || 'none'}`]"
                       >
                         <span class="task-title">{{ task.title || "Untitled" }}</span>
-                        <div v-if="task.priority !== 'none' || task.due_date" class="task-meta">
-                          <span v-if="task.priority && task.priority !== 'none'" :class="['priority-dot', `dot-pri-${task.priority}`]" :title="task.priority"></span>
-                          <span v-if="task.due_date" class="due-date">{{ task.due_date }}</span>
+                        <div class="task-card-footer">
+                          <div v-if="task.priority !== 'none' || task.due_date" class="task-meta">
+                            <span v-if="task.priority && task.priority !== 'none'" :class="['priority-dot', `dot-pri-${task.priority}`]" :title="task.priority"></span>
+                            <span v-if="task.due_date" class="due-date">{{ task.due_date }}</span>
+                          </div>
+                          <button
+                            class="task-advance-btn task-advance-btn--done"
+                            title="Mark as Done"
+                            :disabled="advancingTaskId === task.id"
+                            @click="advanceTaskStatus(task, $event)"
+                          >✓</button>
                         </div>
                       </router-link>
                       <p v-if="!group.tasks.filter(t => t.status === 'in_progress').length" class="col-empty">No tasks</p>
@@ -1088,7 +1128,26 @@ async function confirmDelete() {
 .task-card-done .task-title { text-decoration: line-through; }
 
 .task-title { display: block; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 0.2rem; line-height: 1.3; word-break: break-word; }
+.task-card-footer { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 0.35rem; min-height: 1.2rem; }
 .task-meta { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.35rem; flex-wrap: wrap; }
+.task-advance-btn {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+  width: 1.4rem; height: 1.4rem;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  opacity: 0;
+  transition: opacity 0.15s, background 0.15s, color 0.15s;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+.task-card:hover .task-advance-btn { opacity: 1; }
+.task-advance-btn:hover { background: var(--color-primary); border-color: var(--color-primary); color: #fff; }
+.task-advance-btn--done:hover { background: var(--color-success, #22c55e); border-color: var(--color-success, #22c55e); color: #fff; }
+.task-advance-btn:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: default; }
 
 .priority-dot {
   width: 7px;
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/SettingsView.vue b/frontend/src/views/SettingsView.vue
index 4d58272..bad9dad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/SettingsView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/SettingsView.vue
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { ref, watch, onMounted } from "vue";
 import { useSettingsStore } from "@/stores/settings";
 import { useAuthStore } from "@/stores/auth";
 import { useToastStore } from "@/stores/toast";
-import { apiGet, apiPost, apiPut, apiDelete, listGroups, createGroup, deleteGroup, listGroupMembers, addGroupMember, removeGroupMember, searchUsers, getBriefingConfig, saveBriefingConfig, getBriefingFeeds, createBriefingFeed, deleteBriefingFeed, geocodeAddress, type GroupEntry, type GroupMember, type UserSearchResult, type BriefingConfig, type BriefingFeed } from "@/api/client";
+import { apiGet, apiPost, apiPut, apiDelete, listGroups, createGroup, deleteGroup, listGroupMembers, addGroupMember, removeGroupMember, searchUsers, getBriefingConfig, saveBriefingConfig, getBriefingFeeds, createBriefingFeed, deleteBriefingFeed, refreshBriefingFeeds, geocodeAddress, type GroupEntry, type GroupMember, type UserSearchResult, type BriefingConfig, type BriefingFeed } from "@/api/client";
 import { usePushStore } from "@/stores/push";
 import type { User } from "@/types/auth";
 import PaginationBar from "@/components/PaginationBar.vue";
@@ -231,7 +231,9 @@ const briefingSaved = ref(false);
 const briefingGeocoding = ref<Record<string, boolean>>({});
 const briefingGeoError = ref<Record<string, string>>({});
 const newFeedUrl = ref('');
+const newFeedCategory = ref('');
 const addingFeed = ref(false);
+const refreshingFeeds = ref(false);
 
 async function loadBriefingTab() {
   briefingConfig.value = await getBriefingConfig();
@@ -294,11 +296,12 @@ async function addFeed() {
   if (!newFeedUrl.value.trim() || addingFeed.value) return;
   addingFeed.value = true;
   try {
-    const feed = await createBriefingFeed(newFeedUrl.value.trim());
+    const feed = await createBriefingFeed(newFeedUrl.value.trim(), newFeedCategory.value.trim() || undefined);
     briefingFeeds.value.push(feed);
     newFeedUrl.value = '';
-  } catch {
-    toastStore.show('Failed to add feed', 'error');
+    newFeedCategory.value = '';
+  } catch (err: any) {
+    toastStore.show(err?.message === 'Feed already added' ? 'That feed is already in your list' : 'Failed to add feed', 'error');
   } finally {
     addingFeed.value = false;
   }
@@ -309,6 +312,32 @@ async function removeFeed(id: number) {
   briefingFeeds.value = briefingFeeds.value.filter((f) => f.id !== id);
 }
 
+async function refreshFeeds() {
+  if (refreshingFeeds.value) return;
+  refreshingFeeds.value = true;
+  try {
+    const result = await refreshBriefingFeeds();
+    // Reload feed list so last_fetched_at updates
+    briefingFeeds.value = await getBriefingFeeds();
+    toastStore.show(`Refreshed ${result.feeds_refreshed} feed${result.feeds_refreshed !== 1 ? 's' : ''} — ${result.new_items} new item${result.new_items !== 1 ? 's' : ''}`);
+  } catch {
+    toastStore.show('Failed to refresh feeds', 'error');
+  } finally {
+    refreshingFeeds.value = false;
+  }
+}
+
+function feedAge(isoStr: string | null): string {
+  if (!isoStr) return 'never fetched';
+  const diff = Date.now() - new Date(isoStr).getTime();
+  const m = Math.floor(diff / 60000);
+  if (m < 1) return 'just now';
+  if (m < 60) return `${m}m ago`;
+  const h = Math.floor(m / 60);
+  if (h < 24) return `${h}h ago`;
+  return `${Math.floor(h / 24)}d ago`;
+}
+
 // Chat retention
 const chatRetentionDays = ref(90);
 const savingRetention = ref(false);
@@ -1513,20 +1542,40 @@ function formatUserDate(iso: string): string {
 
       <!-- RSS Feeds -->
       <section class="settings-section full-width">
-        <h2>RSS Feeds</h2>
-        <p class="section-desc">Add RSS or Atom feeds to be summarised in your morning briefing.</p>
+        <div class="briefing-feeds-header">
+          <div>
+            <h2>RSS Feeds</h2>
+            <p class="section-desc">Add RSS or Atom feeds to be summarised in your morning briefing.</p>
+          </div>
+          <button
+            v-if="briefingFeeds.length"
+            class="btn-secondary briefing-refresh-btn"
+            @click="refreshFeeds"
+            :disabled="refreshingFeeds"
+            title="Fetch latest items from all feeds"
+          >{{ refreshingFeeds ? 'Refreshing…' : 'Refresh all' }}</button>
+        </div>
+
         <div class="briefing-feeds-list" v-if="briefingFeeds.length">
           <div class="briefing-feed-row" v-for="feed in briefingFeeds" :key="feed.id">
             <div class="briefing-feed-info">
-              <span class="briefing-feed-title">{{ feed.title || feed.url }}</span>
-              <span class="briefing-feed-url">{{ feed.url }}</span>
+              <div class="briefing-feed-title-row">
+                <span class="briefing-feed-title">{{ feed.title || feed.url }}</span>
+                <span v-if="feed.category" class="briefing-feed-cat">{{ feed.category }}</span>
+              </div>
+              <span v-if="feed.title" class="briefing-feed-url">{{ feed.url }}</span>
+              <span class="briefing-feed-age">{{ feedAge(feed.last_fetched_at) }}</span>
             </div>
             <button class="briefing-btn-remove" @click="removeFeed(feed.id)" aria-label="Remove feed">✕</button>
           </div>
         </div>
-        <p v-else class="field-hint">No feeds yet.</p>
-        <div class="briefing-add-feed">
-          <input v-model="newFeedUrl" class="input" placeholder="https://example.com/feed.xml" style="flex: 1" />
+        <p v-else class="field-hint">No feeds yet. Try adding Reuters, BBC World, or Hacker News.</p>
+
+        <div class="briefing-add-feed-form">
+          <div class="briefing-add-feed-inputs">
+            <input v-model="newFeedUrl" class="input" placeholder="https://example.com/feed.xml" @keydown.enter="addFeed" />
+            <input v-model="newFeedCategory" class="input briefing-cat-input" placeholder="Category (optional)" @keydown.enter="addFeed" />
+          </div>
           <button class="btn-secondary" @click="addFeed" :disabled="addingFeed || !newFeedUrl.trim()">
             {{ addingFeed ? 'Adding…' : 'Add Feed' }}
           </button>
@@ -3030,6 +3079,51 @@ function formatUserDate(iso: string): string {
   transition: color 0.15s;
 }
 .briefing-btn-remove:hover { color: var(--color-danger, #ef4444); }
+.briefing-feeds-header {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 1rem;
+  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
+}
+.briefing-feeds-header h2 { margin: 0; }
+.briefing-feeds-header .section-desc { margin: 0.25rem 0 0; }
+.briefing-refresh-btn { white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.briefing-feed-title-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+.briefing-feed-cat {
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.4rem;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 15%, transparent);
+  color: var(--color-primary);
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+.briefing-feed-age {
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  display: block;
+  margin-top: 0.1rem;
+}
+.briefing-add-feed-form {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  align-items: flex-end;
+  margin-top: 0.75rem;
+}
+.briefing-add-feed-inputs {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  flex: 1;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+.briefing-add-feed-inputs .input { flex: 1; min-width: 160px; }
+.briefing-cat-input { max-width: 180px; }
 .briefing-add-feed {
   display: flex;
   gap: 0.5rem;
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/TaskViewerView.vue b/frontend/src/views/TaskViewerView.vue
index 3f7fc47..cbe391a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/TaskViewerView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/TaskViewerView.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { onMounted, computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
+import { onMounted, onUnmounted, computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from "vue-router";
 import { useTasksStore } from "@/stores/tasks";
 import { useNotesStore } from "@/stores/notes";
@@ -94,7 +94,22 @@ async function loadTask(id: number) {
   if (bl.status === "fulfilled") backlinks.value = bl.value;
 }
 
-onMounted(() => loadTask(taskId.value));
+function handleKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+  if (e.key !== "Escape") return;
+  const active = document.activeElement as HTMLElement | null;
+  if (active && active !== document.body) { active.blur(); return; }
+  if (store.currentTask?.project_id) {
+    router.push(`/projects/${store.currentTask.project_id}`);
+  } else {
+    router.push("/tasks");
+  }
+}
+
+onMounted(() => {
+  loadTask(taskId.value);
+  window.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeydown);
+});
+onUnmounted(() => window.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeydown));
 
 watch(() => route.params.id, (newId) => {
   if (newId) loadTask(Number(newId));
@@ -221,7 +236,10 @@ const subTaskProgress = computed(() => {
       </div>
       <template v-else-if="store.currentTask">
         <div class="toolbar">
-          <router-link to="/tasks" class="btn-back">← Tasks</router-link>
+          <router-link
+            :to="store.currentTask.project_id ? `/projects/${store.currentTask.project_id}` : '/tasks'"
+            class="btn-back"
+          >{{ store.currentTask.project_id ? "← Project" : "← Tasks" }}</router-link>
           <router-link
             :to="`/tasks/${store.currentTask.id}/edit`"
             class="btn-edit"
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/app.py b/src/fabledassistant/app.py
index e7a62ed..afee0c2 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/app.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/app.py
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def create_app() -> Quart:
 
         # Start briefing scheduler
         from fabledassistant.services.briefing_scheduler import start_briefing_scheduler
-        start_briefing_scheduler(asyncio.get_event_loop())
+        start_briefing_scheduler(asyncio.get_running_loop())
 
     @app.after_serving
     async def shutdown():
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/routes/quick_capture.py b/src/fabledassistant/routes/quick_capture.py
index f980aad..660f242 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/routes/quick_capture.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/routes/quick_capture.py
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ async def quick_capture_route():
     if not text:
         return jsonify({"error": "text is required"}), 400
 
-    model = Config.OLLAMA_MODEL
+    from fabledassistant.services.settings import get_setting
+    model = await get_setting(uid, "default_model", Config.OLLAMA_MODEL)
 
     # Build tool list for this user, then restrict to capture-only operations.
     all_tools = await get_tools_for_user(uid)
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_pipeline.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_pipeline.py
index acf3a30..92435a8 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_pipeline.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/briefing_pipeline.py
@@ -274,6 +274,10 @@ async def run_compilation(user_id: int, slot: str, model: str | None = None) ->
         ),
     )
 
+    if not internal_text and not external_text:
+        logger.warning("Briefing compilation produced no content for user %d slot %s", user_id, slot)
+        return ""
+
     greeting = slot_greeting(slot)
     today = internal_data["date"]
     parts = [f"**{greeting} — {today}**", ""]
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/intent.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/intent.py
index 4069a3f..13b1fbe 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/intent.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/intent.py
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ Rules:
 - create_event: appointments, meetings, scheduled occurrences with a date/time ("dentist Friday 2pm", "team meeting next Tuesday")
 - update_note: updating, editing, appending to an existing note or task ("add to my shopping list: eggs", "mark buy milk done", "append to my meeting notes", "update my project note")
 - research_topic: user wants a comprehensive research note from web sources ("research X", "look up X and make a note", "find everything about X", "compile a note on X")
-- create_project: user wants to create a project, initiative, or campaign ("new project X", "start a project called Y", "create a project for Z")
 - create_note: everything else — ideas, observations, links, excerpts, longer text
 - For create_task / create_event: extract a concise title; put any extra detail in "body"
 - For create_note: use a short descriptive title (≤60 chars); put the FULL original text as "body"
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
index 5ac2348..081b1f3 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/tools.py
@@ -530,16 +530,19 @@ _CORE_TOOLS = [
         "function": {
             "name": "get_weather",
             "description": (
-                "Get the current 7-day weather forecast for the user's configured locations. "
-                "Returns temperature, precipitation, and conditions for each day. "
-                "Also reports any changes since the last forecast was fetched."
+                "Get the 7-day weather forecast. Pass a city/region name to look up any location, "
+                "or omit to get the user's configured home/work locations. "
+                "Returns temperature, precipitation, and conditions for each day."
             ),
             "parameters": {
                 "type": "object",
                 "properties": {
-                    "location_key": {
+                    "location": {
                         "type": "string",
-                        "description": "Which location to focus on: 'home', 'work', or 'all'. Defaults to 'all'.",
+                        "description": (
+                            "City, region, or country to look up — e.g. 'Portland, Oregon', 'Tokyo', 'home', 'work'. "
+                            "Use 'home' or 'work' to get the user's saved locations. Omit for all saved locations."
+                        ),
                     }
                 },
                 "required": [],
@@ -1646,11 +1649,31 @@ async def execute_tool(user_id: int, tool_name: str, arguments: dict) -> dict:
             return {"success": True, "log": log.to_dict(), "task": note.title}
 
         elif tool_name == "get_weather":
-            from fabledassistant.services.weather import get_cached_weather
-            location_key = arguments.get("location_key", "all")
+            from fabledassistant.services.weather import (
+                get_cached_weather, geocode, _fetch_open_meteo, parse_forecast
+            )
+            from datetime import datetime, timezone as _tz
+            location = (arguments.get("location") or "").strip()
+            _known = {"home", "work", "all", ""}
+            if location.lower() not in _known:
+                # Live geocode + fetch for arbitrary city
+                try:
+                    lat, lon, label = await geocode(location)
+                    raw = await _fetch_open_meteo(lat, lon)
+                    days = parse_forecast(raw)
+                    return {"data": {"locations": [{
+                        "location_key": "query",
+                        "location_label": label,
+                        "fetched_at": datetime.now(_tz.utc).isoformat(),
+                        "days": days,
+                        "changes_since_last_fetch": [],
+                    }]}}
+                except Exception as e:
+                    return {"success": False, "error": f"Could not get weather for '{location}': {e}"}
+            # Fall back to cached configured locations
             locations = await get_cached_weather(user_id)
-            if location_key != "all":
-                locations = [loc for loc in locations if loc["location_key"] == location_key]
+            if location.lower() not in ("all", ""):
+                locations = [loc for loc in locations if loc["location_key"] == location.lower()]
             return {"data": {"locations": locations}}
 
         elif tool_name == "get_rss_items":