Around 65% of people with coronavirus lose their sense of smell and taste and it's estimated that about 10% of those go on to develop rare conditions that create havoc. Parosmia means you can find human waste smells like food and vice versa. So what causes parosmia? We spoke to Reading University flavour scientist Dr Jane Parker, who is undertaking in-depth research on long Covid and parosmia. Also coming up in this programme, the long term effects of Covid-19 on the travel and tourism industries, with warnings from Bloomberg that life may only return to normal in 7 years at today’s vaccine rates. Christopher Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton speaks about the outlook for the hotel industry in 2021. Plus, the  Covid-19 headlines. - Jackie Cameron

Bosses at South African multinational Steinhoff built an elaborate web of transactions to fool investors, but it eventually started to unravel in 2017. There are parallels in the Steinhoff story with the Wirecard scandal. Behind one of the largest companies listed on Germany's Dax lay an elaborate scheme of fake profit and income statements. Auditors signed off on accounts even though they were a fraud. Prosecutors were slow in the Wirecard case; and so far appear to have turned a blind eye to Steinhoff bosses. BizNews partners at Bloomberg share the fascinating story of the massive corporate fraud that sucked in at least 22bn euros. Meanwhile, South Africans wait for justice to be served on Steinhoff's former CEO and auditors.

* The regulatory Financial Sector Conduct Authority has warned that it has a received a large number of calls from South Africans who have lost huge sums in crypto investments and scams packaged as crypto assets. * Gas powered electricity is coming soon to Gauteng, says Africa infrastructure investor Harith Partners. * Sasol may provide liquefied gas to Gauteng; meanwhile its stock price also benefited from an increase in the price of oil. * Sappi was among the best performers on the JSE on Thursday on the strength of a better-than-expected financial update.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has been sniffing around taxpayers for undeclared profits from trading in cryptocurrencies. This comes as SA gets set to regulate Bitcoin and other digital currencies. But, as expert Thomas Lobban of Tax Consulting South Africa underscores: you should have been declaring your trades ever since you first started trading. Jail and fines loom if Sars discovers your hidden bounty. But, there are ways to come clean - and avoid prison or a penalty, Lobban tells BizNews editor at large Jackie Cameron

OrbVest has grown from the personal property investment portfolio of three successful SA entrepreneurs into a $300m business owning 30 medical blocks in the US. In this podcast, CEO Martin Freeman explains why the company has been one of the few winners from Covid-19, tells us there's only one project still available for investing into, and looks ahead to a Nasdaq listing.

Amazon shareholders are celebrating a smashing final quarter of 2021 after the group reported an astonishing 44% surge in revenues this week, says BizNews Founder Alec Hogg in his daily email exclusive to BizNews Premium subscribers. He says some Amazon co-owners may be concerned that founder Jeff Bezos is handing over the CEO reins. 'I’m willing to bet, though, once it sinks in that becoming executive chairman simply means Bezos is moving up to a newly created level (while keeping his hands firmly on what matters) those flutters will calm down,' notes Hogg. Melissa Burdick, co-founder and president at Pacvue and a 10-year Amazon veteran discusses CEO Jeff Bezos' decision to step down and his successor Andy Jassy, head of Amazon Web Services. She also shares perspective on Amazon's fourth-quarter earnings.

* The Banking Association of South Africa said in a statement on Wednesday that, at the current rate, only R18.9 billion rand - or about 10% - of the R200bn available to help businesses recover from Covid-19 will be allocated. * Moderna has offered to supply its coronavirus vaccine to South Africa, in what would be its first deal to sell shots to an African nation, says Bloomberg. * Airlines have slashed flight prices on the back of low demand in South Africa. * A South African judicial panel said it will lay a criminal complaint against former President Jacob Zuma over his failure to appear before an inquiry into state corruption during his rule. * The big story on US stock markets was move by Jeff Bezos from chief executive of Amazon. to executive chairman. * Distell was among the top performers on the JSE on the back of good revenue outside SA.

Business for SA (B4SA) is campaigning for the government, manufacturers, retailers and consumers to recognise that the growth of the illicit economy - at a similar rate to the legal economy - is a major problem. State capture weakened state entities; Covid-19 rules had the effect of fuelling illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol and other sectors. Listen to anti-crime and tax evasion activists share the granular detail of how businesses that operate outside the law are causing significant damage to the economy. Experts are: * Abraham Nelson – Executive Head of the Consumer Goods Crime Risk Initiative; * Kurt Moore – CEO of the South African Liquor Brand Owners’ Association Zacharia Motsumi – Executive Director of Tobacco Producers Development, Director & spokesperson of South African Tobacco Transformation Alliance * Yusuf Aramjee – Founder of Justice South Africa and anti-crime activist * Busi Mavuso - CEO of Business Leadership SA

Dr Richard Smith is an expert on cycles and the CEO of The Foundation for the Study of Cycles, a not-for-profit. He speaks to BizNews editor at large Jackie Cameron about what is really fuelling 'meme' stocks - and catching out professionals - and what this means for investors outside the Robinhood community. Dr Smith shares where crypto currencies fit in and sizes up whether US markets really are in a bubble - and what the implications may be for investors in shares listed on stock markets in Africa.

* Ford Motor Co. will plow $1.05 billion into a plant in South Africa -- its biggest-ever investment in the country. * Record demand at South Africa’s weekly sale of government debt suggests the lure of relatively high yields still outweighs investors’ concern about the country’s fiscal path. * The South African govt appears to be eyeing crypto currency profits as an additional way to build tax revenues. There are more than 3m traders in SA on one platform alone. * Sasol; Steinhoff

Tesla is sporting a market cap of $800 billion, which is more than seven times the combined sum of Ford and General Motors, notes BizNews Premium partner The Wall Street Journal. That valuation is paired with a minuscule share of the global auto market. So what’s next for Tesla, and other Elon Musk companies? Hear Ron Baron, founder of Baron Capital Management, share why he invested in Tesla early and why he expects the company to do well in the foreseeable future. He also explains that he has been selling Tesla stocks of late to bank some profits and 'it's painful' every time he has sold - because the price has kept rising.

Government's 12J tax incentive to stimulate employment and support targeted sectors is being applauded in the best possible way - via the wallets of sussed SA taxpayers. Bright Light Solar's fund raising issue opened to strong demand from BizNews community members yesterday, in a single day attracting deposits for half of the R50m being raised. In this podcast CEO Kevin Shames explains why this year's issue has been capped and how the fund is able to confidently project a 19% after-tax return. Although theoretically open for another three weeks, the offer must close as soon as investments of R50m have been received via ETF - so, as Shames puts it, this remains very much a case of "fastest fingers first."

With a clear decline in hospital admissions and deaths, Covid-19 restrictions are being eased to balance economic and health considerations. So said President Cyril Ramaphosa when he announced adjustments to the plans to contain the spread of the virus. Vaccine procurement is being ramped up and will include helping SA's neighbours. Beaches have been opened and alcohol sales will be permitted on a limited basis. Faith-based gatherings will also be permitted, and the curfew is being adjusted to help the hospitality sector. It is still compulsory to wear a mask. Listen to his full update, here on BizNews Radio.

Are we in a meme stock bubble? What is a meme stock and how is it driven upwards? Hear from one of the original GameStop bulls, Rod Alzmann, a 31-year who set up GMEDD.com, about how he made a bullish case for the company and his theory took off.

* Corruption in southern Africa is a key theme in world headlines, with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi placed at the centre of a $2bn debt scandal that led to a sovereign default. * In South Africa, former president Jacob Zuma - the central figure in R500bn, or $33bn, lost to corruption - is refusing to testify at the Zondo commission into state capture. * South African equity analysts say the signs are there that Johannesburg equities could deliver solid returns this year. * Distell gained in value on the JSE on speculation that a booze ban will be lifted soon.

In a world overpopulated with fakes, the authenticity of GG Alcock is a beacon of hope. Raised in a mud hut by committed South African Liberals, Alcock's story is inspirational, insightful and uplifting. For those who have read them, his excellent books Third World Child and Kasinomics expose a country few suburb-dwelling South Africans know exists. In this wide ranging discussion, Alcock shares how his roots in rural poverty created unique perspectives on issues that today baffle most of his fellow citizens. For instance, how the corruption-ridden ANC retains political power despite its well acknowledged failings; how massive but mostly unrecognised economic transformation has changed the landscape of former townships; and why he is optimistic at a time when pretty much every pundit sees the SA glass as half empty. For anyone seeking to understand the contemporary South African story, this is a must-listen. Alcock is simply superb.

* ActionSA, a party headed by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, is urged the government to investigate reports emerging from numerous sources indicate that former President Jacob Zuma may be readying to jet out of South Africa. * As South Africa prepares to release its annual budget later this month, the International Monetary Fund has underscored the necessity to curb the country’s excessive public sector wag * South Africa has secured 20 million doses of Pfizer Inc.’s Covid-19 vaccine as the death toll from the disease moves past 42,000, the Johannesburg-based Sunday Times newspaper reported. * This wek investors will get a look at fresh data on the manufacturing sector, earnings from Amazon and Google parent Alphabet.

Have governments gone too far in imposing lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19? Why did governments use this strategy? Is the original Covid-19 still circulating - or did it die out in June? We speak to Brian Pottinger, South African author and former Sunday Times journalist who has undertaken an in-depth investigation into these issues, for his new book: 'States of Panic: Covid-19 and the new medieval'. And, we hear from our partners a Bloomberg about the new response - and mistakes - to Covid-19 by US President Joe Biden, starting with his appointment of Rochelle Walensky to head the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We kicked off discussions with a look at whether bitcoin, blockchain and SA’s underperforming funds have a place in your portfolio of assets. Answering your money questions were: independent financial advisors Dawn Ridler, of Kerenga Wealth Ecology, and Jonathan Botha, Netto Invest.

Justin Rowe-Roberts, financial reporter at BizNews, reflects on this week's performance on the Johannesburg stock exchange. He explains why Steinhoff and Sasol gained in value, why the Clicks share price fell this week - even though it is dumping Musica - and sets out why Woollies is a stock worth considering for the long-term investor. He also explains how Reddit drove share prices up.

Professor Amanda Dempsey has been lauded as one of the pioneers who shaped the accounting profession in South Africa. SAICA’s AccountancySA Magazine recently featured her as one of the people who have changed the profession, citing a passion for the industry that spurred her on to do all she could to ensure it is world class. In particular, she has been at the front of efforts to help empower individuals from poorer communities through education. In this interview, hear how Prof Dempsey has dedicated her life to using a subject that many regard as boring and, perhaps unglamorous, to uplift many South Africans - with the positive effects rippling through families.

Malcolm Lobban of LX Living joins BizNews founder Alec Hogg, to discuss horizontal approval - the final piece of the puzzle that will allow investors in LX Living to get their Golden Visa. The programme allows investors to gain a European passport through property investment.

What's next for PSG as it sells shares in Capitec, an investment that has delivered superior returns? In this interview with BizNews editor-at-large Jackie Cameron, the CEO of the investment holding company dissects the business environment in SA and how its strategy is changing. He slams Covid-19 containment measures and also notes that, with the JSE red tape making a listing increasingly unattractive, PSG is exploring opportunities outside the Johanneburg Stock Exchange. He provides an update on Curro and the PSG share buy-back plans.

* South Africa’s first vaccines arrive in the country on February 1, says the health ministry. * Toyota South Africa will start manufacturing a new model, the Corolla Cross, creating 1,500 new jobs of which 500 will be at its production plant in Durban. * Mining companies in Zimbabwe said a central-bank requirement compelling them to surrender more foreign exchange earned from mineral exports will push their operations to the brink. * Eskom wants South Africans with solar panels to pay more for electricity. * Constitutional Court rules against Jacob Zuma, who refused to testify at the Zondo Commission into State Capture.

In this podcast, the internationally esteemed fine wine critic Carrie Adams chats to Mutle Mogase of the national wine industry body, VinPro, which announced this week that it is taking the South African government to court in an effort to overturn the liquor sales ban. Among its demands - for the prohibition in the Western Cape to be immediately lifted to recognise the sharp decline in that province's coronavirus infections.