separate search freshness from news category selection

services/search/providers.py

@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def _safesearch_for(provider: str) -> Optional[str]:
 # ── SearXNG ──
 
 _NEWS_HINTS = (
-    "news", "nyheter", "headlines", "breaking", "latest", "today", "idag",
+    "news", "nyheter", "headlines", "breaking", "idag",
     "current events", "what's happening", "what is happening",
 )
 _NEWS_EVENT_HINT_RE = re.compile(
@@ -213,8 +213,7 @@ def searxng_search_api(query: str, count: Optional[int] = None, categories: str
     is_news = (
         not is_software_release_query
         and (
-            time_filter is not None
-            or any(h in q_lc for h in _NEWS_HINTS)
+            any(h in q_lc for h in _NEWS_HINTS)
             or bool(_NEWS_EVENT_HINT_RE.search(query))
         )
     )
@@ -226,6 +225,10 @@ def searxng_search_api(query: str, count: Optional[int] = None, categories: str
             params["time_range"] = "week" if time_filter in ("day", "week") else time_filter
     else:
         params["categories"] = categories
+        # Freshness and source category are independent: current manuals,
+        # comparisons and documentation still belong in general search.
+        if not is_software_release_query and time_filter in ("day", "week", "month", "year"):
+            params["time_range"] = time_filter
         # Route general queries to engines that aren't blocked (default general
         # set returns 0 on this instance — see _GENERAL_ENGINES).
         if categories == "general" and _GENERAL_ENGINES:

tests/test_service_search_provider_guards.py

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ behavior at the single implementation point.
 """
 
 import sys
+import pytest
 
 from services.search import core
 from services.search import providers
@@ -74,7 +75,12 @@ def test_service_searxng_json_sends_safesearch(monkeypatch):
     assert seen["params"]["safesearch"] == "1"
 
 
-def test_service_searxng_latest_release_uses_general_search(monkeypatch):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('query,expected_time', [
+    ('latest ollama release version github', None),
+    ('current Firefox Chrome privacy features comparison', 'day'),
+    ('Sony headphone manual', 'day'),
+])
+def test_service_searxng_latest_release_uses_general_search(monkeypatch, query, expected_time):
     seen = {}
 
     class _Response:
@@ -101,7 +107,7 @@ def test_service_searxng_latest_release_uses_general_search(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(providers.httpx, "get", fake_get)
 
     results = providers.searxng_search_api(
-        "latest ollama release version github",
+        query,
         count=1,
         time_filter="day",
     )
@@ -109,7 +115,7 @@ def test_service_searxng_latest_release_uses_general_search(monkeypatch):
     assert results
     assert seen["params"]["categories"] == "general"
     assert seen["params"]["engines"] == providers._GENERAL_ENGINES
-    assert "time_range" not in seen["params"]
+    assert seen['params'].get('time_range') == expected_time
 
 
 def test_service_searxng_specific_current_event_uses_news_search(monkeypatch):