lifeline

The holiday season can offer a lifeline to small businesses, which may struggle during the first 10 months of the year.

A network of community kitchens in Sudan - a crucial lifeline for millions of people caught up in the civil war - is on the verge of collapse, a report says.

A report from Islamic Relief quoted one volunteer as saying most of these kitchens - which are crucial lifelines for millions caught up in the civil war - will close within six months.

A merger with Japanese rival Honda had been seen as a potential lifeline, but talks collapsed in February when the latter proposed making Nissan a subsidiary.

"Online platforms are now essential lifelines for many small businesses across Wales, yet problems such as intellectual property theft and ineffective dispute resolution leave businesses exposed and exploited," he said.