UK Hospitality Cymru director David Chapman said the costs facing the sector made running a business similar to “plate spinning when you’re riding an exercise bike”.

Chapman added: “You have massive amounts of taxation coming from all areas. We have a VAT problem besides business rates. We also have high inflation in the industry over the last few years. Energy costs have been high. Labour costs have gone up incredibly, really, with the National Insurance changes.

“And so it’s been a very difficult job, a really difficult balancing act to keep going.”

That being said, Chapman was keen to welcome the cut in business rates and said it was “the beginnings of a change which I hope will permanently enable our businesses to look at growth and to look at further employment, and to start to plan ahead”.

The UK government, which is responsible for VAT and National Insurance, said the Chancellor prioritised support for the hospitality sector by cutting business rates by 20% for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England during his first week in office.

A spokesperson said: “As business rates are devolved, the business rates cut also means extra funding for the Welsh government, which can choose how to allocate it.

“Our Great British Summer Savings also benefited businesses and families from across the country, including Wales.

“The scheme increased footfall for businesses in these sectors over the summer, getting more people through the door and boosting local economies”.

For SaaS, technology, and AI companies, getting organic visibility is becoming more competitive every year. Creating useful content is important, but publishing content alone does not guarantee that people will find it.

One of the most effective ways to strengthen a website’s organic presence is through strategic link building.

However, successful link building is not about collecting as many backlinks as possible. A website can have hundreds of backlinks and still struggle to generate meaningful organic growth if those links come from irrelevant, low-quality, or untrusted websites.

The real goal is to build the right links from relevant websites and place them where they provide genuine value to both users and search engines.

Why Quality Matters More Than Backlink Quantity

A common mistake in SEO is focusing too heavily on metrics such as Domain Authority or Domain Rating.

These metrics can be useful when evaluating websites, but they should not be the only factors considered.

A strong backlink strategy also looks at:

• Topical relevance
• Organic search traffic
• Website quality
• Audience relevance
• Content quality
• Link placement
• Competitor backlink profiles
• Target page relevance
• Overall authority of the referring website

For example, a backlink from a highly authoritative website may not be particularly valuable if the website has no meaningful connection to your industry.

On the other hand, a relevant link from a trusted website with an engaged audience can support both SEO visibility and referral traffic.

This is why strategic link acquisition should focus on quality, relevance, and context rather than simply backlink volume.

How I Approach Link Building for SaaS, Tech, and AI Companies

I help SaaS, technology, and AI companies build stronger organic visibility through strategic off-page SEO and relevant link acquisition.

My approach starts with understanding the website rather than immediately searching for publishers.

First, I look at the business, its target audience, competitors, existing content, and current backlink profile. This helps identify where new links can have the greatest potential impact.

1. Research and Competitor Analysis

Before building links, I analyze the competitive landscape.

This includes looking at competitor backlink profiles, referring domains, content strategies, and the types of websites linking to competing businesses.

The purpose is not to copy competitors blindly. Instead, competitor research can reveal opportunities that a website may currently be missing.

2. Link Gap Analysis

Once the competitors have been analyzed, I identify relevant link gaps.

A link gap can reveal websites and opportunities where competitors have earned links but your website has not yet established a presence.

This helps make link building more strategic because every campaign has a clear purpose.

3. Relevant Publisher Selection

Publisher selection is one of the most important parts of a link-building campaign.

I focus on websites that are relevant to the client’s industry, audience, and target market rather than selecting websites based only on high SEO metrics.

My publisher network includes websites across SaaS, software, technology, business, marketing, finance, travel, and other industries.

The objective is simple: find websites where the backlink makes sense naturally.

4. Content-Driven Link Placement

A backlink should fit naturally within useful content.

Instead of forcing an anchor text into an unrelated article, I focus on creating or selecting content where the link provides additional value to the reader.

This makes the placement more natural and creates a better experience for the website’s audience.

5. Strategic Target Pages

Not every backlink needs to point to the homepage.

Depending on the campaign, links can be directed toward important product pages, service pages, category pages, or valuable informational content.

Choosing the right target page can make a significant difference in how a link-building campaign supports the overall SEO strategy.

My Link Building Services

I provide strategic link acquisition and off-page SEO services for businesses looking to strengthen their online authority.

My services include:

• SaaS guest posting
• Contextual link insertions
• Niche-relevant backlinks
• High-authority publisher placements
• Competitor link gap analysis
• Strategic guest posting campaigns
• Content-driven link building
• Off-page SEO
• Link outreach
• Publisher research and selection

The focus is not simply on delivering a certain number of backlinks. I aim to build links that are relevant to the website, its audience, and its broader SEO goals.

Experience Behind the Strategy

I have 5+ years of experience in SEO, with a strong focus on off-page SEO, link building, and organic growth strategies.

Over the years, I have worked on more than 1,300 link-building campaigns and developed a publisher network of 105K+ publishers.

This experience has taught me an important lesson:

The right backlink is more valuable than a large number of random backlinks.

Every website and campaign is different, so the strategy should be based on the business’s niche, competitors, target pages, and growth objectives.

A Better Way to Think About Link Building

Link building should not be treated as a one-time task where you simply purchase a list of backlinks and move on.

It should be part of a broader organic growth strategy.

A strong campaign can involve:

Research → Competitor Analysis → Link Gap → Target Pages → Relevant Publishers → Quality Content → Strategic Placement → Track & Improve

This process helps ensure that link acquisition is connected to the website’s actual SEO objectives.

For SaaS and AI companies especially, this approach can help build topical relevance, strengthen website authority, support important pages, and create additional opportunities for organic visibility.

Looking for Strategic Link Building?

If you are a SaaS, technology, AI, or marketing company looking to strengthen your organic presence with relevant backlinks, I can help.

Whether you need SaaS guest posts, contextual link insertions, publisher outreach, or a broader off-page SEO strategy, I focus on building the right links from the right websites.

Let’s Connect

Email: seosharafat@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +92 321 5510045

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharafat-ali-7382002b0/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seosharafat

If you’d like to discuss your link-building goals, feel free to reach out for a free consultation.

The latest S&P Global Kuwait Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading climbed to 53.6 in August from 50.8 in July.

Output and new orders expanded at their fastest rates since February. Export orders returned to growth as businesses secured more demand from customers in neighbouring countries.

This data is important as the Gulf nation has been pushing hard to diversify its economy via sustainable non-oil economic growth, investment and employment.

However, Kuwait must maintain this unwavering drive to widen its economic base. Read on as we look at the current landscape before assessing opportunities for future growth.

Kuwait’s Private Sector Steps Up

The latest PMI figure paints Kuwait’s business environment in a positive light. Companies received more orders and increased their output to meet the demand.

Purchasing activity also surged at a joint-record pace since the survey began in September 2018.

Inventories reached their highest level of the year, and employment started registering growth for the first time in six months. That return is especially significant.

Economic diversification must translate into opportunities for businesses and workers, not just seemingly positive macroeconomic indices.

Kuwait’s August performance shows the increased workload is having its desired economic effect.

However, there are still challenges to surmount. Input-cost inflation was at a six-month high and staff costs rose at their fastest pace in 2026.

If demand continues to rise, businesses will need more productivity and access to new revenue streams to prevent costs from eating away at all their gains.

That is why Kuwait should encourage new industries. They must scour opportunities in technology, entertainment, tourism, payments and digital services.

Online gambling is another lucrative avenue they could explore.

Why iGaming Deserves a Closer Look

Kuwait runs on Islamic laws that frown upon iGaming. However, that hasn’t stopped Arab citizens from passing time with casino games.

Many Kuwaitis have used comparison platforms to find the best online casino in Kuwait, choosing a website or application based on detailed customer reviews.

A regulated gaming market is an ecosystem of technology providers, payment companies, software developers, data businesses, marketing firms, cybersecurity specialists and customer-service operations.

If Kuwait ever decides to change its stance on regulated gaming, the country can generate a tonne of economic activity.

It can be a new source of investment, employment and tax or licensing revenue. It can also spur digital infrastructure development, creating a new stage for Kuwaiti tech companies to shine.

Regulation is the key starting point. Developing a solid framework with clear rules for operators, payments, advertising, player protection, responsible gaming and compliance is a must.

The UAE Shows What Regulation Can Unlock

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the ideal example of how gaming can contribute to the economy.

The UAE recorded its fastest non-oil growth since December 2024 in August. Its S&P Global PMI rose from 52.7 to 55.3.

New business reached its joint-fastest growth rate in over two years, and output growth hit a six-month high. The inauguration of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in 2023 has contributed to the rise.

The UAE has a thriving non-oil economy encompassing tourism, construction, logistics, finance and real estate, but iGaming is an exciting new opportunity it has grabbed relatively early.

The GCGRA oversees commercial gaming, internet gaming, sports wagering, lottery and land-based gaming establishments. Companies in the sector are strictly regulated.

The UAE is a worthwhile example for Kuwait to consider, as the GCGRA states that its regulatory system is designed to maximise commercial gaming’s economic contribution.

Kuwait Should Consider the Digital Economy

Kuwait must invest in its digital economy. Digital technologies, the internet and online data exchanges drive serious economic activity.

Investment in high-speed broadband, cloud infrastructure, data centres and connectivity will spur the non-oil economy.

The UAE is already making strides in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, 5G connectivity, the Internet of Things (IoT), talent development and digital content.

Kuwait can capitalise by making AI a core pillar of its non-oil economic growth strategy. Start-ups can build AI solutions for challenges in energy, logistics, banking, healthcare, retail and government services. These solutions can also be exported to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The country must encourage a start-up ecosystem that can scale into international markets.

Government-backed venture funds, start-up grants, tax incentives and easier company formation can help entrepreneurs venture into financial technology, cybersecurity, AI, gaming and more.

Some economists have brought forward their forecasts for a rate hike by the central bank to as early as October, overturning earlier expectations that the rates would be held steady for the rest of the year amid surplus liquidity.

IDFC First Bank and SBI Research now expect a 25-basis-point (bps) increase next month due to a sharp rise in crude oil prices driven by escalating tensions in West Asia. Amitabh Chaudhry, chief executive of Axis Bank, has also cautioned that a rate hike may be needed sooner rather than later due to rising inflation risks.

The six-member Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India will meet from October 5 to 7 to review interest rates. The repo rate currently stands at 5.25%.

Read more – First-time borrowers deepen credit reach: Credit uptake among eligible Indians more than doubled to 74% in March from 35% in 2017

Both IDFC First Bank and SBI Research said rising crude oil prices – now around $108 a barrel – persistent food inflation and resilient economic growth have increased the likelihood of policy tightening. Prolonged supply-side shocks risk feeding into broader inflationary pressures and inflation expectations, even as the RBI withdraws excess liquidity from the banking system, they said.

Axis Bank’s Chaudhry had also flagged inflation risks posed by higher oil prices and a narrowing India-US interest-rate differential, saying a rate hike may be needed, on the sidelines of the Global Fintech Fest last week.
Until recently, most economists expected the RBI to maintain rates at current levels through at least the rest of the calendar year, supported by surplus liquidity and the central bank’s relatively dovish tone at the August policy review.”The rate hike cycle is expected to be shallow, with cumulative hikes of 50 bps to 75 bps, as it is driven by normalisation in inflation rather than signs of widespread price pressures,” IDFC First Bank chief economist Gaura Sen Gupta said in a report released late on Sunday. “The rate hike cycle could start in October or December, with higher chances of an October start given that inflation will peak in Q3 FY27.”

Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic adviser at SBI, said in a report: “Now we strongly advocate a 25-bps rate hike in the upcoming October policy (followed by another in December in quick succession).”

India’s headline retail inflation rose to 4.82% in August from 4.45% in July, tracking around the RBI’s 5% projection for FY27, with upside risks from food and fuel prices. Economic growth was estimated at 7.8% in the first quarter.

In the minutes of the August MPC meeting, RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra said the 5.25% repo rate had been set in an environment where inflation averaged around 2% in FY26, and that the subsequent rise in inflation warranted a reassessment of the policy setting.

SBI Research said crude prices had crossed $100 a barrel amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and warned that inflation could rise further if input-cost pressures continue to spread across sectors. It added that if oil prices remain elevated, inflation in October and November could move towards 6.5% or higher.

ET Intelligence Group: Shares of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have declined 3.6% over the past month amid broader market volatility. However, analysts remain bullish on the stock, projecting 13-16% upside from Friday’s closing price of ₹3,915, supported by the company’s record order book of ₹7.8 lakh crore as of June 2026, robust capital expenditure demand and a growing presence in the offshore wind segment. While geopolitical tensions and logistics disruptions in West Asia affected execution during the June 2026 quarter, L&T said no major projects had been cancelled. It expects execution momentum and order inflows to improve in the second half of FY27.

The company reported a year-on-year decline in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) and a contraction in EBITDA margin for the June quarter, owing to slower execution in project businesses and foreign-exchange headwinds in its IT subsidiaries. Despite the margin pressure, analysts expect the strong order book and continued momentum in fresh project wins to support margins. Order inflows are being driven by robust domestic private-sector demand, large infrastructure contracts and ultra-mega offshore wind orders from Europe. International projects account for 52% of the current order backlog, highlighting L&T’s increasing geographic diversification.
Read more: India beats a hasty retreat from a crucial market reform

Domestic private-sector investment is expected to remain a key growth driver, particularly across industrials, buildings and factories, metals and minerals, energy, and real estate. The company also continues to gain traction in overseas markets, especially the Middle East, where investments in hydrocarbons, energy transition and infrastructure remain intact despite recent geopolitical disruptions. L&T has identified a prospect pipeline of nearly ₹15 trillion for the remaining nine months of FY27, providing strong visibility for future order inflows.

Read more: FIIs sell Indian shares worth Rs 14,475 crore in Sept; analyst warns soaring bond yields may deepen selloff

The company has maintained its FY27 guidance of 10-12% growth in both revenue and order inflows, despite the challenging operating environment. Analysts believe execution should improve as logistics bottlenecks ease and recently awarded projects move into higher execution phases. Improved collections, particularly in the water and effluent treatment business, are also expected to support working-capital efficiency and profitability in the coming quarters.
L&T has undertaken portfolio-optimisation initiatives, including the divestment of Nabha Power and the sale of its stake in Hyderabad Metro, which may be completed by September-end. These moves would allow the company to focus more on its core engineering and technology-led businesses. Under its Lakshya 2031 strategy, L&T is also investing in newer growth areas such as green energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, data centres and advanced manufacturing.

A new report on the Bottle Yard Studios has revealed its contribution to the regional economy

A television studio in Bristol that was used to film hit show Rivals has boosted the regional economy by millions of pounds, according to a new report.

Spending at Bottle Yard Studios has more than tripled following the launch of its TBY2 facility in 2022, according to the research undertaken by Nordicity & Saffery for Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).

The state-of-the-art facility in South Bristol, which was backed by an £11.8m investment from Weca, is an extension of the Bottle Yard and has three sound stages.

Studio occupancy days have almost doubled since the opening of TBY2, according to the ‘Impact Evaluation of The Bottle Yard Studios’ report, rising from around 600 per year to more than 1,000 in 2024-25.

Estimated inward investment spending of productions supported by the studios each year has also more than tripled – from around £6m in the year before expansion to almost £23m, while annual gross value added (GVA) rose from £4.2m to £15.3m over the same period.

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said the report showed “just how significant” the Bottle Yard “success story” had become for Bristol and the wider West Country.

“It demonstrates that investment in our studios is delivering real economic value, supporting good jobs, helping local businesses grow, developing skills and sustainability, all whilst bringing global attention to our city and region,” he said.

Over the last five years, the studios has hosted 115 film and television projects across its two sites, including 34 high-end television productions, 13 feature films, documentaries, entertainment programmes, commercials and independent productions.

The opening of TBY2 has also helped boost production activity across the wider region. In Bristol, the value of location filming rose from £11.1m in 2022-23 to a record £23.8m in 2024-25, the research found. Employment among surveyed suppliers also increased by 38 per cent between 2021 and 2024.

“The benefits extend far beyond the studio gates,” added Mr Dyer. “Local suppliers, freelancers, accommodation providers, specialist businesses and production crews all benefit when filming comes to Bristol.”

The report comes less than six months after the Bottle Yard released information about its finances for the first time. The Bristol City Council-owned studios provided the details following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Business Live.

The studios had previously come under fire for refusing to confirm whether it makes a profit for council taxpayers.

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Microsoft on Monday revealed a draft of a new “Humanist AI Code of Conduct” that outlines the principles that will govern its development of AI models in an effort to get feedback ahead of publishing a revised version later this year.

The company said the “Humanist AI Code of Conduct” will take into account feedback it receives on the draft over the next six weeks, which will be incorporated into the revised version to be published before the end of the year and guide development of Microsoft AI (MAI) models. 

The principles in the document will “guide our model development in 2027 and beyond,” and Microsoft’s announcement said it will undertake “similar consultation processes as we develop new versions of the Code of Conduct over time.”

“This Code of Conduct is motivated by a single overriding objective: that humans must retain meaningful control over AI so that it can help people live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. It is the primary governing document informing how we train MAI Models, the technical controls, the operational and monitoring systems we implement, and the organizational culture that underpins all of this,” the company wrote.

MICROSOFT CEO SAYS SUPERINTELLIGENCE MUST REMAIN ‘UNDER HUMAN CONTROL’

“At Microsoft AI, we begin with a simple premise: people matter more than AI. Technology’s purpose is to advance human civilization and to accelerate human flourishing. Science and technology have been the engine of human progress for millennia, delivering immense benefits to billions of people,” the company wrote.

“That’s what we intend and expect from AI,” Microsoft added, saying that “to get there, we need to design with care and intention, setting out our aims and objectives clearly in advance.”

SAM ALTMAN SAYS OPENAI WON’T GO PUBLIC IN 2026 AMID AI SAFETY CONCERNS

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
MSFT	MICROSOFT CORP.	505.41	+9.78	+1.97%

Microsoft said that when it launched its superintelligence efforts in November 2025, it did so with humanist principles in mind that would keep humanity in control of advanced AI through how it is calibrated, contextualized and limited by developers.

“Superintelligence – AI systems that are more intelligent and capable than all humans combined – will be the most powerful technology in history. Over the next decade, we expect it to exceed human performance at most tasks,” Microsoft wrote in the draft code of conduct.

“Containing, controlling, and aligning such a powerful force is one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced. We must therefore be completely clear about why we are inventing these systems and how we intend to control them.”

“Defining what they must not do is as important as our excitement and optimism about the tremendous benefits they’ll bring,” the company continued.

NVIDIA CEO JENSEN HUANG DECLARES ‘AGI HAS ARRIVED’ AFTER OPENAI UNVEILS GPT-6 ASTRA

Microsoft developed the draft code of conduct, which is 37 pages in total, over the last five to six months. Its release comes amid comments by the leaders of major AI labs – OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei – geared toward increasing third-party oversight of AI model development to ensure alignment.

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, told Reuters in an interview that it’s “clearly now time to coordinate among the labs so we can ensure that we have control of this technology.”

Suleyman was asked about efforts to pace the development of AI and added, “Now’s a good time for everybody to have this conversation and take a breath.”

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