Local Heroes

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Pascale Harter introduces reportage, analysis and wit from correspondents and writers around the world. In India, the welfare of cows is taken very seriously by Hindus - so allegations of illegal transport, killing or butchery of cattle can be explosive. They've sparked many incidents of interreligious violence in the past year. Jill McGivering joins a group of vigilante 'cow protectors' in Madhya Pradesh on hair-raising high-speed drive as they chase down cattle smugglers. Over the past week there was rejoicing in West Africa and beyond over the election in the Gambia, which seemed to have dislodged longtime strongman Yahya Jammeh. But he's now rejected the result and demanded another vote on the leadership. Colin Freeman argues that whoever ends up running the nation, it could continue to empty out - as young people in particular chase their ambitions abroad. West Virginia is one of the whitest, most rural, blue-collar, most English-speaking states in the USA - and was one of those which swung most decisively towards President-elect Trump, swayed by his promises to revive American industry. Katie Razzall explores some of its bleaker corners and hears what people here are hoping for. And Andrew Gray goes for a (rather noisy) bus ride with the passionate fans of FIFA's newest European national team: Kosovo. Football's a near-obsession in this part of the Balkans, so everything about the side - from its name to its talent pool - becomes a microcosm for much wider debates about politics and identity in the region. Photo: Indian activists from the Bharatiya Gau Kranti Manch group shout slogans against the killing of cows and in favour of honouring them during a protest in New Delhi on February 28, 2016. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)