You may have found yourself in a situation where a well-meaning compliment hasn’t been received well. So what should you do in this scenario? “This can actually provoke shame in both the person giving the compliment and the person receiving it,” says Rachel. “The receiver might have a negative bias toward that particular compliment or even toward the person giving it. At the same time, the giver can feel exposed or rejected.” She adds that the brain also tends to hold onto negative experiences longer than positive ones, so a moment like this can linger and feel harder to move past. Because of that, it can take more conscious effort from both sides to reframe the interaction and not let it define future exchanges.”
NewsBeat
How to compliment someone
We often think kind things about the people around us, but how often do we share them? Giving a compliment not only gives the recipient a huge boost but it also releases feel-good endorphins in the brain of the giver.
However, the thought of giving compliments can feel daunting. What if it sounds cheesy, awkward or insincere? What if it’s not received in the way it was intended? While these worries are all understandable, with a few simple considerations, giving a genuine compliment can be easier than you think.
Read on to learn more about how to compliment someone effectively, with expert insight from relationship coach and author Rachel Rose.
How to compliment someone
Knowing how to compliment someone effectively comes down to three main steps: understanding the power of a compliment and how you want to make the recipient feel, preparing yourself to give it, and considering the elements that go into a good delivery.
Step 1: Understand the power of a compliment
First things first, consider how powerful a genuine compliment can be to the recipient. By complimenting someone on their character, energy or how they make you feel can positively impact them for months, if not years, to come. When a compliment feels disingenuous, however, the recipient will feel it. It may make them feel misunderstood or point to the fact that you’ve created a false sense of who they are in your head.
What makes a compliment meaningful?
A meaningful compliment is always one that you genuinely feel or have thought to yourself. For instance, you may have noticed how charismatic someone is, or how others seem to feel comfortable in their presence. Likewise, you might admire their quick wit or listening skills. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re really taking notice and like the person, genuine compliments should come easily.
Read more: How to tell if someone likes you
The psychological benefits of giving and receiving compliments
We all know how warm we feel inside when someone gives us a really thoughtful compliment. But what actually happens in our brains during this type of interaction? “Giving and receiving compliments activates reward pathways in the brain and gives you a hit of dopamine,” explains relationship coach Rachel Rose.
“The more you do this, the more your brain starts to associate compliments (both giving and receiving) with a feel-good emotional state.” She adds that this is why, for people who feel comfortable with giving compliments, it can become something they naturally want to do more often. “Over time, it builds positive reinforcement and can even shift your baseline mood in a more optimistic direction.”
Step 2: Preparing to give a compliment
Once you know what you’d like to compliment someone on, the next step is preparing yourself to give it. Delivering it in the right circumstances can make all the difference in how it’s received. Here are a few pointers to consider:
Recognise appropriate situations for compliments
First of all, think about an appropriate situation when you could give a compliment such as on a walk, at an intimate dinner, or having a coffee. It should flow naturally with the conversation. A compliment delivered out of context could surprise the recipient and make them feel embarrassed.
Understanding your intent: genuine vs superficial compliments
Compliments are generally well received when the recipient understands that your intent is real. Superficial compliments that you don’t really mean will land badly and come across as insincere. For example, there’s no point telling someone they look amazing when they are unwell and tired and not looking their best.
Tailoring your compliment to the person
Dishing out generalised and impersonal compliments can come across as transactional. Instead, think about the things you like about the recipient and the positive moments or exchanges that have affected how you feel about them.
Step 3: The art of giving compliments
Delivering an authentic compliment is easy when you know how. Here’s what to bear in mind:
How to be sincere
The most convincing compliments are offered when the moment’s right or it flows within a conversation. For instance, you may be having a conversation about how you first met and your first impressions – prime time for a compliment. Or, if you’ve noticed something you really love about them, such as how funny they are, you could say this after they’ve made you laugh. If the person makes you feel uplifted, tell them so after spending the day with them. “You’re so naturally funny – I haven’t stopped laughing all day!” for instance, or “you always put me in such a good mood”.
Use compliments to acknowledge shared interests
Acknowledging your shared interests is also a natural way of delivering a compliment. For instance, if you both love film and you admire how much they know about the subject, tell them.
Or, if you both enjoy running or playing tennis, saying something like, “Just when I thought I couldn’t be more obsessed with tennis, you came along and made me love it even more”. Likewise, if food is your thing, share a compliment such as, “I really love how much thought you put into organising our dates. You’re so good at finding the best restaurants’. Compliments like this aren’t overdone or grand, but they reinforce a positive relationship built on trust and honesty.
Focus on effort and achievements rather than just physical traits
While it’s always nice to tell someone they look good, if the only thing you ever compliment someone on is their physical traits, it may make the recipient feel like that’s all you value about them. Instead, compliment them on their effort and achievements, such as how good a parent or friend they are, how dedicated they are to charity and community work, or how you admire their talent for hosting.
Pay attention to your recipient’s body language
Taking notice of a person’s body language is a great way of knowing when to give a compliment. If they’re sitting in a relaxed position, giving you plenty of eye contact and mirroring your body language, you’ll find it easier to deliver a compliment in a confident way. If a person’s body language feels more closed and dismissive, you may be more likely to receive a negative reaction. In cases like this, wait for a better time when the mood feels lighter.
Types of compliment to give
Struggling for ideas of how to compliment someone you care about? Here are a few places to start:
Best compliments for women
- I really admire how you always see the best in people.
- You always put me in the best mood.
- You’re so knowledgeable about such and such. It’s really impressive.
- You have the warmest energy. That’s why so many people gravitate to you.
- I feel so relaxed and happy when we spend time together.
- I really value your opinion so I’d love to get your perspective on something.
Best compliments for men
- I love how passionate you are about such and such
- You always make me feel really understood.
- You show such dedication to such and such. I really admire that about you.
- I love that you aren’t afraid to show your softer side.
- I love the way you treat the women in your life.
Best compliments for friends and family
- You always make sure that everyone is included.
- You’re such a kind friend/sister/brother/mum. I’d be lost without you.
- I love spending quality time with you.
- I can always count on you.
Building a habit of complimenting others
If you’d like to feel more confident in complimenting others, you need to build it into your life as a habit. Here are some simple ways to do so:
How to integrate compliments into daily life
Start with the simple rule: if you think of something kind, share it. If you love what someone is wearing, tell them. If you enjoyed spending time with a friend, send them a message afterwards to tell them. If you’ve noticed a friend or loved one has made extra effort in an area of their life such as exercising more, or committing to a community project, tell them how much you admire them and how they motivate you.
Encourage others to compliment
Some people find giving compliments easier than others. You can encourage those around you by paying someone a compliment and asking them if they agree. This allows them to add their own thoughts and feelings without having to initiate it. This fosters a culture of positivity and inspires those around you to concentrate on each other’s strong points.
Track the impact of your compliments on a relationship
Once you feel comfortable enough around someone to give them a compliment, you may see that it strengthens and deepens your relationship. This is because a compliment that shows you really understand a person improves trust and connection. When you make others feel good, they will feel more positive. These feelings will form the basis of your entire relationship.
FAQs
The best compliments are always ones that are the most genuine. Complimenting someone on their character or how they make you feel, for instance, is also a nice thing to share with someone you care about. “I think telling someone that their energy radiates a positive vibration is one of the best compliments you can give,” says Rachel. “It doesn’t focus on physical appearance, so it avoids accidentally offending or triggering insecurities. Instead, it highlights something more personal and unique. Energy is individual. No one else has the same presence or aura so it feels more meaningful and less tied to social expectations or conventional standards.” She adds that compliments like this also tend to land as more genuine, because it reflects how someone feels to be around rather than how they look.
Giving compliments doesn’t come naturally to everyone and it’s understandable to feel shy about it. Rachel suggests you gently gauge the recipient’s level of receptivity first. You could say something like, “I noticed something really lovely about you. Would you be open to me sharing it with you?”
“That small step sets the scene, gives the other person a sense of choice, and makes the interaction feel more emotionally safe,” she explains. “It also takes some pressure off you, because you’re not just putting the compliment out there without context. You’re creating a moment that both of you step into more consciously.”
“It’s generally in good taste, and really important for your own self-worth, to receive and accept a compliment,” says Rachel. “Simply acknowledging it with a ‘thank you’ allows the moment to land.” She adds that rejecting or deflecting a compliment can unintentionally activate shame in the person giving it, even if that’s not your intention. “Over time, consistently downplaying positive feedback can also reinforce a habit of self-depreciation, where it feels more comfortable to dismiss praise than to accept it. Learning to receive compliments, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable at first, helps build self-acceptance and confidence over time.”
If you are single and interested in meeting like-minded people, join Telegraph Dating. With more than 220,000 single people, Telegraph Dating is the perfect place to find online romance.
NewsBeat
Prostate cancer screening: Final guidance recommends against testing all men
Professor Sir Mike Richards, chairman of the UKNSC, told a briefing: “We absolutely recognise the strong support for prostate cancer screening amongst a large number of people, but also the very real harm that can be caused by the disease, which patients and indeed their families, experience.
NewsBeat
The Military Packing Hack That Doubled My Luggage Space
I have something to confess: I’m a ridiculously heavy over-packer, even though I know there are better ways.
I once brought a car-hoggingly huge suitcase to a two-day wedding. When my partner and I lived apart, I’d regularly bring two big sports bags over for a weekend.
But for a recent trip, I figured: no more. Now, I think, is the time to save some suitcase space (not least because some airlines could soon become stricter about carry-on measurements).
My biggest problem is clothes. So, I gave “ranger rolling” a try, and was seriously impressed by the results.
What is ranger rolling?
It’s basically rolling up your clothes, but with an added “lip” made from the bottom of the garment that secures it to prevent unrolling.
Yes, “regular” rolling works too. But, Travel + Leisure pointed out, they risk far more wrinkling and a much greater chance of becoming loose than the military-approved method.
How do you “ranger roll” clothes?
I have to be honest with you: this is a lot easier with thin, “square”-ish objects, like T-shirts. However, I did manage it with a hoodie and even some thick joggers.
Lie your item of clothing flat on a surface (I went for the floor) and then fold the bottom five centimetres or so up. I find that for bulkier and/or longer garments, this fold needs to be longer; this will be the “lip” that encases your rolled-up item.
Then, try to “square off” the other end of the clothes as much as you can. For a hoodie, I folded the hood into the square body of the item and crossed the sleeves across its centre.
Fold this “squared” item in half, then roll the non-folded end towards the folded end all the way down. Don’t stop when you reach the hem that’s been folded in: if you stop here, the item will unravel.

This should leave you with a folded “lip” on the outside of the rolled garment. Turn this inside out to cover the rolled-up piece of clothing, a bit like securing a pillowcase shut.

My images pale in comparison to expert videos, however, like this very useful one from Sophie Liard (known online as The Folding Lady).
Did it work?
I had some serious hiccups. Firstly, I wasn’t rolling tight enough: that meant it was harder to wrap the lip around the outside of the clothes.
Secondly, all my clothes were thick and irregular, which made the job harder. I don’t really own many T-shirts and hadn’t packed any; these seem the best candidates for the job.
But after a couple of tries (and learning to really squeeze that roll), I saw success. The before-and-afters of my suitcase speak for themselves.
So, if you’re a fellow chronic over-packer, I recommend giving it a go.

NewsBeat
Uber adds major new safety feature allowing recording of journeys | News UK
Uber passengers will be able to hit the record button on journeys to capture audio after a new feature to tackle safety concerns was added.
The company has become synonymous with ride-hailing in the UK. Uber is thought to have more than 100,000 drivers on its platform and millions of riders.
In a bid to make the interactions safer for passengers and drivers, Uber announced its latest features today, including the voice recording option and verification for customers.
How does it work?
Uber said the tool will give riders and drivers ‘extra peace of mind.’
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The record option will be available on the app either before or during a trip, with a button to start recording appearing on the screen.
The audio will be encrypted and stored on the customer’s phone.
But the audio won’t be sent to Uber automatically – they can only access it if it is uploaded through the app as part of a safety record.
Have you felt unsafe during an Uber journey?
The audio will be deleted after two weeks if no safety report is lodged.
Meanwhile, Uber drivers will receive a notification if the audio record is activated before the journey.
They will then have the option to cancel the booking without a penalty.
The audio recording option will go live today for most of the UK, while London will follow later.
If the passenger activates the audio recording during the ride, the driver won’t be notified to avoid escalating any potential safety situation, Metro understands.
If the recording is submitted to Uber with a safety report, the driver will be notified.
What other Uber features are new?
From next week, passengers can get verified on the app, which will be visible to drivers.
Those customers who have had their details cross-checked by uploading a picture of their ID and a selfie, or verified details with a third-party database, will have a verified badge on their profile.
This option is set to be rolled out from June.
Kola Olalekan, an Uber driver and the branch secretary of the GMB union, said seeing a verified badge on a profile would make him much more likely to accept a booking because of ‘extra confidence’ it gives.
Andrew Brem, the general manager of Uber UK, said: ‘We are always investing in new ways to make journeys even safer.
‘These new safety features provide both riders and drivers with extra peace of mind.
‘Riders can record the audio of their journeys securely, and drivers can feel more confident about who is getting in their car.’
Drivers and safety campaigners welcomed the safety changes.
Lucy Duckworth, from the Survivors Trust representing rape and sexual abuse victims, said the two new features are a step towards giving riders and drivers more confidence about journeys.
She said: ‘We have to create a safety-first culture as a society, where people respect each other and unsafe behaviour is challenged.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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NewsBeat
why moving games to evenings isn’t enough to tackle extreme heat problem
The 2026 Fifa World Cup is the biggest ever edition of the world’s most watched sporting tournament. The 48 teams taking part in Canada, the US and Mexico may find their toughest opponent is the extreme heat.
Very hot temperatures are expected across many of the states including Texas, California and Florida where World Cup games are being held this summer, with wildfire risks being highlighted in some states. The tournament kicks off on June 11.
The problems heat causes during matches were visible during the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, played in the same summer months and across many of the same North American venues. Players and managers repeatedly referenced the stifling weather conditions.
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovač said after a match in Cincinnati he was “sweating like I’ve just come out of a sauna”. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández described conditions as “very dangerous”, adding that “everything becomes very slow”. Juventus manager Igor Tudor revealed that ten players asked to be substituted during a match against Real Madrid in Miami, where temperatures reached 30°C, with 70% humidity.
North America’s last World Cup (USA 1994) also produced memorable scenes relating to heat. German striker Jürgen Klinsmann recalled: “I played in Dallas at 120 degrees [49°C ] I was dying” in a match against South Korea. Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton was reprimanded by Fifa officials for throwing water bottles onto the pitch to help his dehydrated players during a game in Orlando.
Extreme heat is not just uncomfortable – it threatens both health and performance. Football already has documented cases of heat-related fatigue, collapses and hospitalisations, including Guatemalan referee Humberto Panjoj collapsing during a 2024 Copa América match in Kansas City.
Heat also changes the game itself. Studies show players cover less distance, perform fewer high-intensity sprints and get tired more quickly in extreme conditions. Tired players are more prone to mistakes and injuries, while hotter matches have been linked to more penalty shootouts, as exhausted teams struggle to break each other down in extra time.
Scientists commonly use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) to assess heat stress. Unlike air temperature alone, WBGT combines temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind, making it a better indicator of how dangerous conditions feel to the human body.
Several football governing bodies – including the global players’ union Fifpro – consider a WBGT above 28°C to be a threshold where matches should potentially be delayed or postponed.
20-year average levels of extreme heat in 16 venue cities
Author, CC BY
Possible solutions?
A study I led in 2025 found that 14 of the 16 upcoming World Cup host cities are likely to exceed the extreme 28°C WBGT threshold if conditions this summer are typical. Most of the danger falls during mid-afternoon, and Fifa has clearly tried to reduce some of the risk through scheduling. Compared with the Club World Cup, matches in the hottest cities and non-air-conditioned stadiums have largely been shifted away from the most dangerous hours of the day.
That will help – but it will not eliminate the problem.
Some high-risk fixtures remain. Late afternoon (5pm) and early evening (6pm) matches in Miami and Kansas City carry a greater than 30% risk of WBGTs exceeding 28°C if summer temperatures are typical, rising above 50% if conditions are hotter than average. The final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey kicks off at 3pm, when the probability of extreme heat is about 30% in a typical summer and 55% in a hot one.
Those estimates may even turn out to be conservative. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense globally. The 2021 western North America heatwave shattered records by more than 4°C in some locations. A similarly extreme event during the World Cup could push lower-risk cities such as Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver into dangerous territory, while prolonging extreme evening heat in more vulnerable venues such as Miami, Kansas City and Philadelphia.
And even air-conditioned stadiums do not remove the wider public-health risk.
In the hottest cities such as Dallas and Houston, indoor venues may protect players and match officials during the game itself. But tens of thousands of spectators will still spend hours travelling, queueing and celebrating in dangerous outdoor heat. Many fans are older, less physically fit than elite athletes, dehydrated from alcohol consumption, or arriving from cooler climates with little acclimatisation.
The risk therefore extends well beyond the pitch.
Yet Fifa’s current heat policy remains limited. All matches will have three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half, but the threshold for stronger action remains exceedingly high. Current Fifa guidance only mandates additional precautions at a WBGT of 32°C.
That figure has alarmed scientists and medical experts who have sent an open letter urging Fifa to strengthen its heat protections before the tournament begins. Their recommendations include doubling the time for cooling breaks to six minutes, lowering the WBGT threshold for intervention and introducing clearer rules for delaying or postponing matches in dangerous conditions.
It is possible matches could be delayed or postponed if WBGTs exceed 32°C. This would be a decision for Fifa – and is something they have never done before. It is worth noting that the 32°C threshold is also considerably above levels many experts consider dangerous.
It’s likely that more World Cups will be played outside the traditional summer months in future. This was the case for the Qatar World Cup in 2022, moving from June/July to November/December and is almost certain to be the case for the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia.
The 2026 World Cup may ultimately become a defining test for how global sport adapts in a warming world. Scheduling matches outside the hottest hours is a sensible start. But as temperatures continue to rise, timing alone may no longer be enough.
NewsBeat
Emmerdale bosses tease farm wars between 3 families
The rivalry, described as “farm wars” by Digital Spy, will focus on power struggles and land ownership, returning the show to its rural roots with a fresh twist.
Producer Laura Shaw said in an exclusive chat with Inside Soap: “Emmerdale has always been built on a hierarchy.”
Emmerdale fans to expect family rivalries over power struggles and land ownership
She added: “Robert is that tenant farmer who is still owned by the Tates up on the hill, looking down on him.
“The Dingles own their farm and the Sugdens own theirs, but the Tates owning all the land around is going to be important.”
Laura continued: “We’re going for a Yellowstone vibe, which will bring us lots of story in the future.”
The storyline has already seen major changes at Butlers Farm, where Moira Dingle made a deal to sell her share to the Tates while on remand for crimes she didn’t commit – human trafficking and double murder.
Butlers Farm has since been rebranded as Emmerdale Farm and is now run by Robert and Aaron Dingle as tenant farmers.
Emmerdale’s most emotional exits
Moira made the difficult decision out of concern for her unwell husband, Cain, who was struggling to manage while she wasn’t there.
She has since been released due to the case falling apart.
At Wishing Well Cottage, Cain and Sam Dingle plan to start their own Dingle Farm.
Natalie J Robb, who plays Moira, welcomed the change of direction, according to Digital Spy.
Ms Robb recently said: “It’s nice to be back after Moira’s time in prison.”
She added: “Obviously it’s going to be a big change being at the Dingles’ rather than Butlers Farm – it’s new stories.
“What’s lovely is that Moira is not in debt anymore, so she can start from scratch.
“It’s quite nice that it’s not always about money.
“Presumably she’ll be building it all up again, but that comes a bit later on.”
Tate and Sugden families to expand with two new Emmerdale arrivals
The news of the rivalries comes after Emmerdale bosses confirmed two new arrivals would be joining existing families.
The Tates and the Sugdens will welcome a new member each but it has not yet been decided who the new characters will be.
Emmerdale also intends to restore the prominence of the Sugdens, one of the show’s original families.
Fans can hear more from producer Laura Shaw in the latest issue of Inside Soap magazine, which is out now.
Which family is your favourite, the Tates, Dingles, or Sugdens? Tell us in the comments below.
NewsBeat
At least 13 people killed after packed bus crashes into lorry in central China’s Hunan
At least 13 people were killed in central China‘s Henan province early on Thursday after an overcrowded minibus crashed into the back of a large truck.
The collision took place at 2.40am local time on a section of the G40 highway running from Shanghai to Xian in Shaanxi province, China’s ministry of public security said in a statement.
The minibus was approved to carry nine passengers but had 16 people on board at the time of the crash, the statement said. The passenger bus rear-ended a semi-trailer truck travelling ahead of it.
Following the incident, the ministry said it dispatched a working team to Nanyang to guide the investigation. The ministry said it “attached great importance” to the incident, “immediately dispatching a working group to Nanyang led by a traffic management bureau official to direct investigation and handling work”.
Deadly crashes are common in China, mostly due to poor safety standards and reckless driving.
In November last year, China witnessed its deadliest rail accident in more than a decade when a train ran into a group of railway workers, killing 11.
At least one person died and four others sustained injuries when a driver allegedly drove into a crowd in Chongqing in June that year.
NewsBeat
Eggs won’t crack if you do simple step before boiling them
There’s nothing worse than boiling an egg only for it to crack, but there is an easy way to prevent it.
Boiled eggs make an excellent breakfast, lunch or snack, particularly during this time of year. They’re a perfect addition to summer salads, making them an ideal accompaniment to evening meals.
Despite their versatility, boiled eggs can be surprisingly tricky to master. The duration you cook your boiled egg is crucial to achieving the desired outcome.
You can achieve runny yolks that are perfect for dipping toast soldiers, almost-set eggs for a sticky yolk, jammy ones ideal for scotch eggs, and a classic boiled egg that is mashable yet not dry.
There are only minutes separating the different varieties, so careful attention when cooking is essential. However, an often-overlooked step when preparing boiled eggs comes with the preparation.
Eggs can crack while boiling, causing the egg whites to leak into the pan. Water can even seep into the egg and significantly affect the flavour.
Fortunately, there’s a straightforward way to prevent eggs from cracking, and that’s ensuring they reach room temperature before cooking.
BBC Good Food explained: “Make sure your eggs aren’t fridge-cold – eggs at room temperature will have less of a shock when put into hot water and will therefore be less likely to crack.
“You can also use an egg pricker or pin to make a very small hole in each egg before boiling, which will reduce the chance of it cracking in the heat. Slowly lower the eggs into the water using a spoon – don’t just drop them.”
How to boil an egg so it doesn’t crack
Fill a saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Allow your eggs to come to room temperature if they have been kept in the fridge. If using, make a small hole in the egg using an egg pricker.
Carefully lower the eggs into the water using a spoon.
Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and set your timer according to your desired outcome.
Cooking times for a large egg
Five minutes: just-set (not solid) white and runny yolk that’s ideal for dipping
Six minutes: liquid yolk and a slightly wobbly white
Seven minutes: almost set for a sticky yolk
Eight minutes: softly set and jammy to make scotch eggs
10 minutes: a classic hard-boiled egg that’s mashable, but not dry
NewsBeat
how art is reshaping South Greenland
The morning sun lights up the ice-covered mountains around Narsaq, a small village in South Greenland. Turquoise icebergs float by the shores of the fjords, and seagulls gather on the cliffy rocks. An old man walks slowly along the colourful houses on the hill.
The picturesque scene feels almost surreal, but this is indeed where I find myself as a researcher of public art projects (like street art and murals) and how they shape local communities.
I am about to visit the social services and training centre for young people, “Inusullivik Piareersarfik”, where many come to prepare for the job market and engage in artistic projects in Narsaq.
Some come here because they are having a hard time. They worry about what comes next – work, school, life at home – or they are simply trying to figure out who they are.
For those who are having difficulties, the centre offers counselling through creative activities, where young people take classes in painting, music and carpentry.
Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
Art in local communities
I am in Greenland to study the Sanasa Art Route Project, one of the initiatives at the centre. The project brings together teenagers, artists and community workers to create large-scale murals across South Greenland.
Art has long held an important place in the communities of South Greenland, with various artists and musicians from this region helping shape modern culture and identity.
Award-winning Greenlandic filmmaker Inuk Jørgensen’s recent film Entropy, for example, explores how the destruction of the Greenland ice sheet is threatening the spiritual relationship between the Inuit and nature.
Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
Then there is singer, guitarist and producer Malik Høegh from the influential Greenlandic rock band, Sume who also hails from South Greenland, and was integral in creating the first Greenlandic long-playing vinyl record Sumut, meaning “Where to?”
Vittus Nielsen, the workshop supervisor at the centre in Narsaq, greets me warmly and hands me a cup of coffee. A group of teenagers sit nearby. They give me a slight nod, some smile.
Someone says something in Greenlandic, and the group laughs. I do not understand the words, but I am glad to be sitting among them.
Nielsen and I talk about the Sanasa Art Route Project, founded in 2018 by master painter and decorator Heidi Zilmer, who also has Greenlandic roots.
The project brings young people from several villages in South Greenland together with artists and community workers to paint vibrant murals on school walls, old factories, or harbour containers.

Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
These murals illustrate motifs about Greenlandic identity, myths and cultural traditions – painted and developed by over 200 young adults from all over Greenland.
In times of uncertainty and political polarisation, these murals and paintings have become anchors; places where people gather, see themselves reflected and connect with each other.
Let’s build something
In Greenland, villages are often measured by large infrastructure developments, roads built, and funds invested.
But the Sanasa project shows that another form of infrastructure is just as essential. One that is visual and cultural rather than physical.
Sanasa means “let’s build something” in Greenlandic. And that is what the members of the Sanasa Art Project certainly want to do: to build a strong local community, where people feel at home, help each other and stay for future generations.
One of the murals, Andala inside the public school in Narsaq, by the artist Konrad Nuka Godtfredsen, is painted in a comic strip style. It has a clear message: education is your future.

Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
In times of uncertainty
But life in Narsaq has become increasingly uncertain in recent years, as the village faces population decline and shifting infrastructure.
Just before I visited, the Narsasuaq Airport – about 18 miles from Narsaq and a former US military base – was downscaled to a heliport. This means fewer visitors for the area.
At the same time, there is the proposed mine of rare earth and uranium in the Kvanefjed area, a short distance from the village. The question of mining has raised concerns locally about contamination to the surrounding sheep farms and fisheries, prompting widespread protests.
And then there is US President Donald Trump with his repeated interest in acquiring Greenland. The capital, Nuuk, remains overrun by journalists, researchers and tourists because of this. Indeed, I saw signs at museums and cafes that state: “We do not give interviews about the political situation!”
Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
A guide at the Narsaq Museum – a small exhibition house dedicated to local culture, history, fashion and industry – told me:
Trump has destroyed everything. Everything. I always liked the Americans as neighbours, but now, he ruined everything. We are very worried.“
But amid these geopolitical tensions and regional challenges, I saw communities in South Greenland rediscover their resilience through public street art and find a renewed sense of hope.

Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
Art and a new airport
The next day, I take a boat to Qaqortoq, the largest town in South Greenland, where the atmosphere is noticeably different. Everybody is talking about the opening of the new Qaqortoq Regional Airport – now large enough for passenger flights, medical transport and freight. Before this, access was only possible by boat and helicopter.
In Qaqortoq, change shows up not only in infrastructure, but also in what you see around you.
The town is part of the same Sanasa Art Route Project, and murals are visible across public spaces. One of them, Arferup Pania by Hollie Kielsen Olsen, interprets a Greenlandic myth about a girl abducted by a whale.

Kathrin Maurer, Author provided (no reuse)
This also relates to the famous Greenlandic myth, Sassuma Arnaa, meaning “mother of the sea”. The Sanasa Project website explains that in Olsen’s interpretation, the whale and the girl have a daughter, Arferup Pania, described as a symbol of beauty after a storm.
Olsen says that painting this mural was a way to connect her to her Greenlandic identity, and it made her feel positive about the future.
That is like what I experienced in South Greenland. Even in stormy times, these communities are finding beauty, reconnecting with their culture and rekindling hope through art.
This article was commissioned as part of a partnership between Videnskab.dk and The Conversation. You can read the Danish version of this article here.
NewsBeat
Probe to look at North Yorkshire Council house builder finances
Senior councillors heard this week that the company had appointed Veritau to examine decisions made at the construction company, which reported a £7.5m loss for 2025/26.
York-based Veritau, which is owned by local authorities in Yorkshire and the North-East including North Yorkshire Council, provides internal audit and counter-fraud services to public sector and private customers.
The update was given to the council’s executive committee this week by Councillor Mark Crane, executive member for open to business.
He said: “We are keeping a close eye now, as we have been for a while, on Brierley Homes.
“I do think, if I may say, that the appointment of the new managing director is a positive step forward and he has my confidence. He seems to have got to the bottom of the issues there and I feel that we are on a more sustainable footing.”
Mark Crane. Nyc
Cllr Crane added: “I think members should also be aware that we have asked Veritau have a look at what has gone on over recent years with a view to reporting back to the shareholder board and the executive on any recommendations and any findings that they have.
“From there, we will take the matter further if we need to. I certainly feel it’s on a stronger footing now and I don’t think you can underestimate the amount of affordable homes that are being built as a result of Brierley.”
Cllr Crane said he was unable to elaborate further on what Veritau would be looking for when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The company appointed Tony Dodds as managing director earlier this year following the departure of Stuart Ede, who left the role in January.
Brierley Homes is forecast to make a loss of £7.47m in 2025/26 — despite a profit of around £700,000 being forecast.
The council has blamed the poor performance on less income from sales than expected, increased costs and delays in the completion of homes, leading to increased overheads and interest costs.
Council chiefs have previously agreed a £27m loan facility for Brierley Homes and the plan warns that £7m of the loan may still be outstanding in five years time.
Gary Fielding, the council’s corporate director for resources, told the executive committee meeting that despite the loss, the company did deliver some benefits to the council, including helping to provide more affordable homes.
He added: “A point I would make is that while a £7.5m loss is clearly unwelcome, £1.5m of that was additional interest earned by the council as the funder of that loan so the net loss to the council is £6m.”
NewsBeat
Kuwait says it faced a missile and drone attack, with Iran war ceasefire shaky
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait said it was targeted with a missile and drone attack Thursday, another challenge to the shaky ceasefire in the Iran war following strikes by both Washington and Tehran.
Kuwait’s military made the announcement, without providing further details on what had been targeted. Iran said hours later that it launched an attack in the region, but it did not say exactly what was targeted.
Kuwait, a close ally of the U.S., repeatedly came under fire from Iran and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq during the war.
The announcement comes as the Middle East is on the edge. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that his administration is making headway in negotiations with Iran to end the war, but the talks remain in flux.
Trump is looking for an agreement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz — through which about a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas once passed. He is also seeking to get Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium while the Islamic Republic wants economic sanctions to be lifted and frozen assets to be released to aid its shattered economy. The war has been unpopular in the U.S., and Iran’s closure of the strait has sent oil prices skyrocketing, driving up fuel prices around the world.
As the negotiations continue, there have been several challenges to the ceasefire in recent days.
On Monday, the U.S. said it conducted what the Pentagon called “defensive” strikes on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran. U.S. officials said late Wednesday in Washington that forces launched more strikes on Iran, shooting down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the strait and hitting an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard via the state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged the attack around Bandar Abbas International Airport and said it launched its own retaliatory attack on the air base that launched the assault.
It did not elaborate on the target and it wasn’t clear whether that was the attack that Kuwait announced.
___
Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.
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