Latest news with #BTO
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Terrific Sabalenka comeback in Berlin thwarts Rybakina
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has shown nerves of steel and a champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak. Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker on Friday and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was cruelly denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour. The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure. All grit & determination 👏#BTO — wta (@WTA) June 20, 2025 Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion. The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, which Sabalenka edged 8-6. Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3. The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5. Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist. "Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match. "When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am. "It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying 'til the very last point." Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final. Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after the injury-plagued eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip problem during their quarter-final. Wang, the world No.49, was leading 6-1 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racquet and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes. The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
‘We BTO-ed, so I stayed': SG woman shares emotional and mental abuse from partner, regrets not leaving sooner
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean woman recently shared on Reddit that she ended up staying in a toxic relationship longer than she should have, simply because she and her partner had already secured a BTO flat together. In her post on the r/SingaporeRaw forum, she explained that she had been working full-time throughout the relationship, while her partner was still studying and had no income. As a result, she found herself shouldering most of the financial responsibilities, including paying for their dates and shared expenses. She added that she had brought up the idea of him getting a part-time job multiple times to help with the costs, but he always brushed it off without much thought. Her frustration deepened when he went on an 'overseas trip with his classmates' — a decision that made her realise he likely had money, just not when it came to contributing to their relationship. Despite all this, she stayed. She held on to the hope that once he graduated and started earning, their combined income would eventually support a stable life together. However, things only continued to spiral. She said his behaviour became increasingly 'toxic,' not just financially but emotionally as well. He would often raise his voice and 'shout at her in public' during arguments, would belittle her because she 'was only a poly graduate,' would leave her to meet his friends even when she was ill, and when faced with difficult conversations, he would walk away instead of trying to resolve them. She added that whenever she attempted to discuss problems in their relationship, he would claim he was overwhelmed with 'schoolwork' and would begin to suggest that she was part of the problem. On several occasions, he even implied that her presence in his life was contributing to his mental health struggles, going so far as to say he felt 'suicidal.' The final straw, she said, was when he looked her in the eye and asked what 'she actually brought to the table.' 'Now that I am still healing from this traumatic relationship, I realised what I experienced was a perfect example of how a person can be too fixated on getting a toxic relationship fixed just because we BTO-ed,' she wrote. Not wanting others to go through the same thing, she added, 'Please, leave a toxic relationship even if it means letting go of your house that is getting ready. Please, leave a toxic relationship even if it means starting all over again to meet someone new, love someone new, and get a house with someone new. Never let anyone doubt yourself and your capabilities. Please, love yourself before you love others.' 'This is true; don't stay for the BTO.' In the comments section, one user remarked that stories like this explain why so many people are now scared of falling in love or settling down. They said, 'How many people stay in such relationships just to get a BTO flat? And the government wonders why nobody wants to have children or even get into a relationship. I don't expect silver-spoon elites to be able to comprehend the concept of trauma. Most fatigued nation, most traumatised nation too.' Meanwhile, others responded with words of support for the woman who shared her story. One commenter said, 'It's always giving yourself time and space to really call this relationship what it is. I think you must have come a long way to come to this conclusion and accept it. Sending you love and light, and I hope you heal.' Another added, 'I'm sorry you had to face this. This is true; don't stay for the BTO. Person A, he will just be more selfish in the future.' Things to consider before applying for a BTO flat as a couple Before applying for a BTO flat, Thirst SG encourages couples to pause and have a few honest conversations with each other. Questions like 'Are we really ready for marriage?' or 'Should we commit to something as big as a flat if we're still unsure about our future together?' are worth asking before taking that next step. It's not just about emotional readiness either. Couples should also think through the more practical aspects. For example, where will they stay while waiting for the flat to be built? Are they both comfortable living with either set of parents, and will that arrangement support a healthy relationship? If staying with family isn't an option, renting may be the only alternative. But that brings up other concerns: Can they afford the cost of rent and bills for a few years? How will they manage shared expenses? And will renting delay their plans for saving up for things like a wedding or home renovation? In the end, it's always better for couples to talk through these important issues early on, rather than rush into a long-term commitment they may not be fully prepared for. Read also: 'How do I make her stop?' — Woman says her neighbour is 'weird and demanding,' but she struggles to say no to their demands Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Key Concept Strengthens Capabilities with Team Expansion In 2025
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 June 2025 - Key Concept, a leading interior design firm in Singapore, is proud to announce a strategic team expansion in 2025, marking a significant step in the company's ongoing growth and commitment to cultivating new talent in the interior design industry. This expansion reflects Key Concept's dedication to nurturing the next generation of designers. By creating a supportive and inspiring environment, the firm aims to empower aspiring interior designers—especially recent graduates and career switchers—by offering hands-on experience, creative mentorship, and meaningful career development. With the increasing demand for quality condo interior design, BTO home renovation, and resale flat renovation projects, Key Concept is scaling its team to meet client needs while enriching the industry with fresh perspectives and ideas. Founded with a mission to make quality interior design accessible and personal, Key Concept specialises in transforming everyday spaces into functional and stylish homes. The firm is known for its client-first approach, attention to detail, and innovative solutions tailored to Singapore's unique housing landscape. As part of its forward-looking plans, Key Concept is also excited to announce Key Concept Grand Opening Event, a special event happening this June. More than a showcase, the event celebrates the firm's evolution, creativity, and the vibrant community it serves. Homeowners attending the event can expect exclusive offers, including additional discounts on project sign-ups during the event period. Whether it's modern condo makeovers or thoughtful HDB transformations, Key Concept continues to set the standard in Singapore's interior design landscape—balancing function, style, and individuality through every project. For more information, please visit Hashtag: #KeyConcept The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Key Concept Strengthens Capabilities with Team Expansion In 2025
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 June 2025 - Key Concept, a leading interior design firm in Singapore , is proud to announce a strategic team expansion in 2025, marking a significant step in the company's ongoing growth and commitment to cultivating new talent in the interior design expansion reflects Key Concept's dedication to nurturing the next generation of designers. By creating a supportive and inspiring environment, the firm aims to empower aspiring interior designers—especially recent graduates and career switchers—by offering hands-on experience, creative mentorship, and meaningful career development. With the increasing demand for quality condo interior design BTO home renovation , and resale flat renovation projects, Key Concept is scaling its team to meet client needs while enriching the industry with fresh perspectives and with a mission to make quality interior design accessible and personal, Key Concept specialises in transforming everyday spaces into functional and stylish homes. The firm is known for its client-first approach, attention to detail, and innovative solutions tailored to Singapore's unique housing part of its forward-looking plans, Key Concept is also excited to announce Key Concept Grand Opening Event, a special event happening this June. More than a showcase, the event celebrates the firm's evolution, creativity, and the vibrant community it serves. Homeowners attending the event can expect exclusive offers, including additional discounts on project sign-ups during the event it's modern condo makeovers or thoughtful HDB transformations, Key Concept continues to set the standard in Singapore's interior design landscape—balancing function, style, and individuality through every more information, please visit Hashtag: #KeyConcept The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Rental voucher scheme for families waiting BTO completion to be extended until end of the year
The extension is expected to benefit around 200 households, said HDB. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Rental voucher scheme for families waiting BTO completion to be extended until end of the year SINGAPORE – A voucher scheme that defrays the rental costs of young couples and families waiting for their Build-To-Order flats to be completed will be extended for six months, until the end of this year, the Housing Board said in a statement on June 16. The extension is expected to benefit around 200 households, said HDB. HDB gives out Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) vouchers to eligible families who rent flats from the open market. These families will receive $300 per month to offset rental costs incurred from July to December 2025. Before the extension, the rental voucher scheme had only covered tenancies until June 2025. The rental voucher scheme aims to provide interim support for eligible families that rent rooms or flats on the open market, while the HDB ramps up the supply of its own PPHS flats - which are interim rental homes for such families. The agency is bumping up the supply of PPHS flats to 4,000 units by the end of 2025, from 800 units in 2021. The latest move to extend the rental voucher scheme comes after a significant drop in application rates for PPHS flats, from 20 in 2021, to around three currently, said HDB in a statement on June 16. Eligible households must apply from August 1, 2025, even if they have applied for the first batch of voucher support, and can expect to receive the voucher for each full month of tenancy. To qualify for the rental voucher scheme, families must have a monthly household income of $7,000 or lower. They must ensure that their landlord has registered their tenancy with HDB, and that their NRIC addresses have been updated. Families currently renting a PPHS flat can also choose to rent from the open market and apply for the PPHS voucher upon once they end their PPHS flat tenancy. Interested applicants can check their eligibility for the voucher on HDB's website . HDB also said it is on track to launch over 130,000 BTO flats from 2021 to 2027 and including those with shorter waiting times. It said that BTO application rates for first-timer families have dropped to 1.5 during the recent February sales exercise. This is down from 3.7 in 2019. Median waiting times have also dropped to below four years, comparable to pre-pandemic levels, said HDB. 'All BTO projects undergoing construction are on track to be delivered on time,' said HDB. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
