Image source, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT HHS

US President Donald Trump has bowed to public pressure and signed an executive order promising to "keep families together" in migrant detentions.

Mr Trump reversed his own policy amid international fury over the separation of undocumented parents and children.

He said he had been swayed by images of children who have been taken from parents while they are jailed and prosecuted for illegal border-crossing.

But the order does not address families already separated by the policy.

US immigration officials say 2,342 children were separated from 2,206 parents between 5 May and 9 June.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire asks if it is appropriate for the UK government to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump after the heartbreaking caging of children at the border.

The first minister says it is not appropriate at this time to roll out the red carpet.

Labour MSP James Kelly raises the case of constituent Sam Ross, who has Down's Syndrome and was spat at in the face on her way home from work.

The first minister says this was "despicable and unacceptable".

Ms Sturgeon thanks James Kelly for raising the case of Sam.

She says Sam should continue to work and go about her daily life with the full support and admiration of everybody across this chamber.

Do you know another name for a hummingbird's beak?

The question flummoxed MSPs in the Holyrood chamber, and others outside it too.

It was posed by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to Nicola Sturgeon during First Minister's Questions.

After she replied that she did not "immediately" know the answer, Mr Leonard told her the question had been asked during thestandardised literacy testingof five-year-olds.

Mr Leonard insisted confident children were being "crushed" by these tests, with children "driven to tears".

Read more.

Mr Rennie calls for the national tests to be stopped right now.

The Scottish Lib Dem leaders says parents are concerned about the impact on their children because they are only five.

He asks why won't the first minister scrap the tests.

Ms Sturgeon argues what drives her is to improve education and good data is required.

The first minister says she has met many primary one pupils who are better at using a computer than her.

All of the questions in the test are aligned to the Curriculum for Excellence benchmarks for primary one.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie criticises the standardised testing of five year olds and mounting workloads facing teachers.

Why does the first minister think everyone else is wrong but she is right, he asks.

The first minister insists standardised testing is purely for teachers to assess student progress.

Children's wellbeing is at the heart of the process and tests and appropriate to the age of the child, Ms Sturgeon asserts.

Green MSP John Finnie raises issue of highland councillors who have voted to grant planning permission for the controversial Coul Links golf course.

SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon raises concerns about the potential closure of Stracathro Hospital.

Ms Sturgeon confirms there is no intention to close the hospital.

Image source, Dave Gray

In August 2017, we reported that a scheme to reduce ferry fares to and from the Northern Isles is to be rolled out this year.

Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf said Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) would be introduced on Pentland Firth routes, with a variant for Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick.

RET allows fares to be realigned with the equivalent cost of travel by road.

It is expected to see foot passenger fares cut by an average of more than 40%, with car fares down more than 30%.

Read more.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur raises the issue of when Orkney and Shetland residents will benefit from Road Equivalent Tariff.

The transport secretary is looking into this and an announcement is forthcoming.

Image source, Getty Images

Private renting has become "completely unaffordable" in some areas of Scotland, according to a new report.

The Scottish government paper blames Westminster welfare policies, in particular the introduction of Universal Credit, on the increase in rent arrears.

The new system has had a "substantial impact" on the number of people falling behind and the amount owed, it said.

It added that soaring arrears affected landlords' ability to collect rents.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald raises rising rents in Edinburgh, noting it has some of the highest percentage yields in Scotland.

The first minister says the new private rental tenancy put in place last year protects tenants against excessive increases.

Tenants can also challenge increases they believe to be unfair, she adds.

Ms Sturgeon also highlights local authorities can make a bid to put a cap on rents in place.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard cites the "huge breach in the continuity of care " Ms Wilson received.

Mr Leonard says Christina's family are calling for a review of what they call "forced transitions" like this.

He calls for a review of the Bield situation.

The first minister says the health secretary will look into the tragic case of Christina Wilson.

She reiterates the point it was Bield's decision, not the government, who made the decision to close the care homes.

Mr Leonard says 87-year-old Christina Wilson, who has Alzheimers, is one resident that had to move.

The Scottish Labour leader explains she passed away last week having been moved to a nursing home.

He says despite the best efforts of the new care home staff Ms Wilson's condition deteriorated.

"We have a good care system in this country," replies Ms Sturgeon.

The Scottish government was not in control of the decisions Bield took, she says.

The first minister expresses condolences to Christina Wilson's family and in particular her granddaughter.

Image source, Solstock

Back in January, the Scottish government was urged to step in over the future of up to 12 Bield care homes.

The firm has said financial constraints means it has to look differently at how the business operates.

Unison has warned that the closures would be a "disaster", with about 160 elderly people losing their homes.

Bield said it was in advanced talks to secure a new provider for four of the care homes in Edinburgh, Fife and Jedburgh.

Read more here.