And, in February, Medvedev, in typically top-down Russian governmental fashion, announced plans to build a high-tech zone inspired by Silicon Valley.

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Brigadier Gordon Messenger, a spokesman for the British military, conceded on the Today programme that the security zone in the Sangin valley is just "several square kilometres" in size but added that this provides a haven for the local population.

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Finding a Mediterranean climate characterised by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, they successfully planted their own vines and have kept the valley dry grown (ie no irrigation zone) for more than 150 years.

BBC: Beyond the vines in Australia��s Barossa Valley

Mr Hain, 61, was recorded doing 35mph (56kph) in a 30mph (48kph) zone on the A4109 in the Neath Valley at 08:30 GMT on 12 June last year.

BBC: Neath MP Peter Hain fined for speeding