<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">  <channel>    <title>Shropshire Star Opinion</title>    <link>https://www.shropshirestar.com/opinion/rss</link>    <description>Visit now for the latest news direct from Shropshire Star Opinion and updated throughout the day</description>    <language>en-gb</language>    <copyright>Copyright 2026, Iconic Media Group Ltd</copyright>    <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:25:34 GMT</pubDate>    <dc:date>2026-11-02T14:25:34Z</dc:date>    <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language>    <dc:rights>Iconic Media Group Ltd or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026</dc:rights>    <atom:link rel="self" href="https://www.shropshirestar.com/opinion/rss" type="application/rss+xml" />    <link rel="hub" href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" />        <item>          <title><![CDATA[21 young people dropped out of college because of transport issues, North Herefordshire MP says]]></title>          <link>https://www.shropshirestar.com/opinion/21-young-people-dropped-out-college-transport-issues-9324187</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>21 young people dropped out of college because of transport issues, North Herefordshire MP says</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:15:40 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9324187</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.shropshirestar.com/jpim-static/image/2026/10/10/20/cs-048cf681-8e9a-423d-ab68-f97165b0893a.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Compton]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-02T12:15:40+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[I'm not a musical fanatic - but Blood Brothers at Birmingham's Hippodrome left me enthralled]]></title>          <link>https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/im-not-a-musical-fanatic-but-blood-brothers-at-birminghams-hippodrome-left-me-enthralled-9303844</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>The tale of two brothers that left the audience speechless</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:36:04 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9303844</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.shropshirestar.com/jpim-static/image/2026/10/22/11/54/Sean-Jones-Joe-Sleigh-Blood-Brothers-UK-Tour-2026-Photo-Credit-Jack-Merriman.jpeg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Photo Credit Jack Merriman</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Sean Jones &amp; Joe Sleigh: Mickey and Eddie -  (Photo Credit Jack Merriman)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Emma Hynes]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-02T09:36:04+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[NHS praise, wind farm concerns and gamekeepers – readers' letters, plus royal visit to Ludlow in 1922]]></title>          <link>https://www.shropshirestar.com/opinion/letters/letters-opinions-nostalgia-throwback-9323415</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Readers praise the care provided by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, raise concerns over proposed wind farms in Wales and question the role of gamekeepers. There are also further thoughts on morality in a multicultural society and the commercialisation of Halloween and Christmas</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:18:32 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">6295896</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.shropshirestar.com/jpim-static/image/2026/10/30/10/2026_10_30_10_15_00_974_MNA_238C155767F144CE97040E1.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: A sea of flat caps, bowlers, and bonnets fills the centre of Ludlow as a massive crowd gathers outside the historic Buttercross to welcome newlywed Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles on June 6, 1922. The photograph, published in David Evans’s book Dawdling in the Dale, captures the town’s jubilant celebrations framed by the landmark Bodenhams drapery store in the background. - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tania Taylor]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-02T08:18:32+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Letters]]></category><category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Journalism is a vital part of our national infrastructure ]]></title>          <link>https://www.shropshirestar.com/opinion/journalism-is-a-vital-part-of-our-national-infrastructure-9319898</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Journalism holds power to account, strengthens our resilience and connects people to the places they call home.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:19:45 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9319898</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.shropshirestar.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjFhMDU0Y2Q0LTY3M2ItNDQ0ZC05MjhmLWYwOTdhZTlmNGZiNTpjMTdiNDU4MC1iNDRjLTQ1NDMtYTE5My02ZTJlYWI1NWE0ODk=.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[Prime Minister Andy Burnham - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prime Minister Andy Burnham]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-02T00:19:45+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>        </item>  </channel></rss>