Lately for Thursday 1 July 2021

10:20 Fiji records a daily record number of positive Covid-19 cases

Fiji has just announced a new daily record of 431 Covid-19 cases along with two deaths. Despite the alarming spread of a second wave of Covid-19 in Fiji, medical authorities say not imposing a full lock down is in line with international practice and takes into account humanitarian considerations. Karyn speaks with RNZ Pacific's correspondent Lice Movono in Suva.

10:30 The world's most expensive city 

The capital of Turkmenistan has been named the world's most expensive city to live in for overseas workers. The annual Mercer Cost of Living Survey measures worldwide cities on more than 200 expenses including housing, transportation, entertainment, as well as food and household bills. It has found the city of Ashgabat  has topped it's survey passing Hong Kong in second place, Beirut in third place and Tokyo in fourth place. 

According to the Mercer survey the city of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan has more than one million residents and has moved up from second place because of ongoing food shortages and hyper- inflation. Kate Fitzpatrick from Mercer joins Karyn to discuss. 

10:45 The Rest is History: Scotland's new parliament in 1999

In our look back in history tonight - we're going back to 1999. On the first of July the new Scottish Parliament was opened by Queen Elizabeth, the first time Scotland had its own parliament for nearly 300 years. It was a big moment full of pageantry - a Concorde flyover, and the escort to the crown, the Scots Guards travelled in full song playing Scotland the Brave down the Royal Mile to the General Assembly Hall on the Mound.  Karyn is joined by the Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies at Otago University, Liam McIlvanney.