In a worst-case scenario they take up a roster spot and a miniscule piece of cap space, and at best they emerge as top playmakers at a bargain price.

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The vote in Maine will have national implications, both for state-level battles moving forward and for the Supreme Court, which is likely to take up at least one gay-marriage case next year, the Portland Press Herald reported.

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There is in any case a large a question mark over the take-up of elected mayors outside London.

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There are strategic reasons Mr. Gupta might take the stand, particularly if the case appears to be a toss-up, lawyers say.

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"In almost every case, the abundance of fish goes up in no-take zones, " Akins said.

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When this is the case, sometimes it helps to take a longer-term look at the charts to clear things up.

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In which case you might want to take as much tax-free cash as possible from your pension, usually up to 25% of the value of the fund can be taken as cash.

BBC: Fergus Muirhead