When supply chains snap ...

WHEN unforeseen crisis strikes supply chains like the pandemic did, the danger of being cut off from essential imports of food, medicines and commodities looms large for small, resource-poor economies like Singapore's.

What can Singapore do to increase self-reliance and ensure resilience? We look at solutions - some already in gear - in Brunch in The Business Times Weekend.

This Saturday, The Raffles Conversation is with Henry Zhao, chairman of Harvest Fund Management, one of China's biggest asset managers. The scholar leader talks about growth in the country's equities market, and why he thinks Chinese Reits will be a game-changer.

The most recent changes to Integrated Plan (IP) insurance generated much debate between insurers and the medical profession in recent weeks.

One of the biggest concerns is that if one is seriously ill, there will be a potential loss of income as well as increased medical expenses. Our Money Wisdom spells out why there is a need to mitigate this financial risk, and why consumers must understand the implications of the changes and what they should do about it.

Also in the Wealth section, a venture capital advisor unveils inconsistencies in private equity fund performance, and explains how PE fund managers can - and often - fail to deliver on their outsized promises.

What exactly are you giving away when you click "Allow" in the free app you've just installed on your device? More than you think, as The Winding Road cautions.

And on our Health page, a closer look at the facts and fallacies surrounding good and bad cholesterol.

• To subscribe, visit bt.sg/subscribe