<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[B.M. ALLSOPP]]></title><description><![CDATA[B.M. Allsopp writes the acclaimed Fiji Islands Mysteries, a unique police procedural series. Join the Fiji Fan Club and we'll give you two free books.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:31:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bmallsopp.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's national flower: tagimaucia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Not many Fijians have seen a tagimaucia, beloved as the national flower of their island nation. ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-national-flower-tagimaucia-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7fba2b40f3daf10ba0e462</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji flowers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:20:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_3792918ab74a44f8bdab9bbfcdbbc5db~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_517,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sweet and sour: Fiji's sugar addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fiji's sugar story is complex, with both sweet and sour elements.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/sweet-and-sour-fiji-s-sugar-addiction</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5706e55e603ccfb330e68b</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji export industry]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji & world events]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji economic news]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_927fa8ad2e0843adba90c22052c7775b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_700,h_394,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's friendly bull sharks]]></title><description><![CDATA[An intensive study of Fiji's bull sharks threatens to modify the reputation of this marine species as a solitary apex predator. ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-friendly-bull-sharks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2e0ce0418318a8f7e55136</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:22:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_936a7af58a9c4b4dbff215dff735c3be~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Death of the People's President: Fiji mourns Ratu Epeli Nailatikau]]></title><description><![CDATA[Often dubbed the "People’s President", Ratu Nailatikau was a highly respected statesman, military leader, and chief who served as Fiji's President from 2009 to 2015.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/death-of-the-people-s-president-fiji-mourns-ratu-epeli-nailatikau</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e9a835ab5395dde607b548</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:15:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_89ec7f6a093848a5a13cc029dc1e378f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_515,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Papaya (pawpaw) power - plus a recipe]]></title><description><![CDATA[I first encountered this scrumptious fruit at the buffet table, where large slices of orange papaya  attracted my hungry eye. ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/papaya-pawpaw-power-plus-a-recipe</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69daff11515c02011a10014c</guid><category><![CDATA[food]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji recipes]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_10ef5d6e9c094f5299790fe5f9f082f7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_853,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji faces: war-paint or fashion?]]></title><description><![CDATA[An early English Methodist missionary in Fiji, Rev. Thomas Williams, stunned the literary world in 1858 with his landmark work of anthropology, Fiji and the Fijians. ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-faces-war-paint-or-fashion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b6205bd1b1d9cdf217cb22</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:45:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_1e9bc22853da43c18cd778a5e09db167~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_367,h_499,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's 2.6-tonne Cocaine Crisis: the impact of narco-subs]]></title><description><![CDATA[In mid-January, Fiji Police swooped on remote Vatia in Fiji, where they seized 2.6 tonnes of cocaine. Discover how drug cartels use narco-subs in the South Pacific.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-2-6-tonne-cocaine-crisis-the-impact-of-narco-subs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698ace92d471d728ee6ad67a</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><category><![CDATA[transnational crime]]></category><category><![CDATA[drug crime in Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:40:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_9bb1187bdc484eb995fe44d8a3bfaa75~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_862,h_575,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's finches and other unique land birds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Discover Fiji's finches and unique land birds in this informative post. Explore their habitats, adaptations, and conservation efforts.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-finches-and-other-unique-land-birds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69659a0ee6e689b3de4caf34</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji birds]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:02:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_7ff15d8500824ea3bbe4795b63acbfd5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My first Fiji Christmas: plus a musical gift]]></title><description><![CDATA[Discover the joy of a unique Fiji Christmas with heartfelt carols, island traditions, and a special musical gift.  ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/my-first-fiji-christmas-plus-a-musical-gift</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693baae1055df7302e8fcff6</guid><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji celebrations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji music]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:28:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_ba817186f62c48e1b99c8fdd0865bf45~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_480,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's Chiefs: a story of twists and turns]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dive into the intriguing story of Fiji's chiefs and their place in a modernising Fiji.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-chiefs-a-story-of-twists-and-turns</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6917d02a973bdd08dc7cc52e</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_3e721c5969e94ce0bd95e98f1d21dc4b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_960,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji High Court sentences nine for massive drug import ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fiji High Court sentences nine for massive drug import]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-high-court-sentences-nine-for-massive-drug-import</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68c4c57965c4abb322dc56e6</guid><category><![CDATA[transnational crime]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><category><![CDATA[drug crime in Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[drug import trial Fiji]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 05:18:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_1060df7b7c62436e802c8566d1e423c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_656,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Humans in Fiji: strangers in paradise 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[What were Fiji's glorious islands like 3,500 years ago? We now know the large, mountainous islands were covered by lush rainforest. The western parts of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are now...]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/humans-in-fiji-strangers-in-paradise-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6875be9849b18336a606adab</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_c329aa81a01648149217ca9ad6cd8972~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_750,h_483,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[May 13th is Rotuma Day: but where is Rotuma?]]></title><description><![CDATA[May 13th is Rotuma Day, celebrated with gusto in not only on Rotuma Island, but in Suva, Lautoka, Samoa, Tonga, Australia and New Zealand. So, where is Rotuma?]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/may-13th-is-rotuma-day-but-where-is-rotuma</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6822ef0b09c5c2b0e391377e</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 13:34:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_f1ae82dc187b4697bfcda902e838acad~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_324,h_349,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Iguanas: Fiji's first settlers?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago, Fiji again made headlines in the world scientific media, when the mystery of Fiji's iguanas was solved.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/iguanas-fiji-s-first-settlers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67fc8d25555ee813e6b606c3</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><category><![CDATA[volcanic eruptions]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_655a366a4235644f6c6377~mv2_d_4483_3165_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kava or yaqona: Fiji's iconic ceremonial brew]]></title><description><![CDATA[Inexplicably, until now I've not blogged about kava (yaqona in Fijian), Fiji's iconic ceremonial brew. In pre-colonial times it was a drink ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/kava-or-yaqona-fiji-s-iconic-ceremonial-brew</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67d4cffda54aa18ac2db22bd</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 15 Mar 2025 07:13:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_acfef64b38d7465b8a73abd03019bdba~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_480,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fiji's national flower: tagimaucia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Not many Fijians have seen a tagimaucia, beloved as the national flower of their island nation. ]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/fiji-s-national-flower-tagimaucia</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67b035b6e2c8f9851f3e6cf8</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji flowers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji nature]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 15 Feb 2025 07:13:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_3792918ab74a44f8bdab9bbfcdbbc5db~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_517,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Update: will the tsunami of organised crime destroy Fiji?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Will the tsunami of organised crime destroy Fiji?]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/update-will-the-tsunami-of-organised-crime-destroy-fiji</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6784757a62c6b84e1660e5c5</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji & world events]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><category><![CDATA[transnational crime]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 01:16:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_b82bdd6c10564c3c9e13bb8fe9f1fce2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_862,h_485,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Banking on Fiji]]></title><description><![CDATA[Behind recent news headlines lie changes for the worse to banking services in Fiji and other Pacific islands nations.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/banking-on-fiji</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6735ac0931756b3948e31735</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji news]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji & world events]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji business]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:01:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_13bc2a25e9e94b99b6912bdc34242ad3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_999,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matthew Flinders - hero home from the sea]]></title><description><![CDATA[Captain Matthew Flinders was one of the Royal Navy's most outstanding navigators, best known for his 18-months circumnavigation of Australia]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/matthew-flinders-hero-home-from-the-sea</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66b81c6291406a01ace4d7e7</guid><category><![CDATA[Fiji history]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji & world events]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 13 Aug 2024 08:23:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_725f29e4147e4a38ac1b5bfc3f9a5591~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_629,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My favourite Fiji dish: kokoda]]></title><description><![CDATA[This quick and easy marinated fish dish is ideal in hot and humid weather.]]></description><link>https://www.bmallsopp.com/post/my-favourite-fiji-recipe-kokoda</link><guid isPermaLink="false">669348308abd0541b1652548</guid><category><![CDATA[food]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fiji]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 2024 04:40:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e475bf_48c618ee664141c7824769b4dacf28e8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_955,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>B.M. Allsopp</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>