Labour MSP Iain Gray says Rwanda is currently observing 100 days of national morning, marking the slaughter of one million people - around 70% of the Tutsi population.

"The world knew this was happening."

The Labour MSP says at the time he worked for Oxfam and he remembers the letter from a victim warning they would be killed the next day.

When the killing ended, the Hutu population fled the country fearing retribution he says.

"I cannot find the words to explain what it is like to see a country empty of its people: one part dead and the rest having fled," he says.

Mr Gray adds: "Rwanda emerged from the genocide devastated."

"To this day I burn with shame that my country failed to act to save those lives."

The MSP goes on to highlight genocide ends with murder but it does not start there, and says we must not tolerate dehumanising language "anywhere, ever".

Image source, AFP

Labour MSP Iain Gray leads a member's debate marking the 25th anniversary commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The first minister says there is a level of estimation for this due to the nature of illicit drug taking.

Concerns about addiction to prescribed medication were references in the chronic pain strategy, she highlights.

Mr Stewart says opiates contribute to 218 drug deaths in 2018 and raises concerns about super strength painkillers.

Ms Sturgeon says clinicians are advised the consider alternative for patients with chronic pain.

The Scottish government will continue to take such issues seriously, she adds.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP David Stewart asks for an assessment of the level of opiate addiction.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur welcomes the commitment to meet the net zero target by 2045.

However he points out last week Ms Sturgeon told Willie Rennie she would not scrap the £250m tax cut to the aviation industry.

"Will she scrap the proposed aviation tax cut?", he asks.

The first minister reiterates the fact that change is not happening this year and all policies will be considered in light of the advice today.

She also points out that the Lib Dems cannot have it both ways, citing the party's opposition to a workplace parking levy.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Maurice Golden says the Scottish government is set to miss its recycling target by 12 years and has barely moved on transport emissions.

How can this parliament have confident future targets will be met, he asks.

The first minister argues the government is meeting its climate change targets and highlights the UK government has yet to respond to the CCC's report.

"This is a responsibility for all of us," she says.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says there is climate emergency and we must all act urgently.

Amendments to the Climate Change Bill have already been tabled, adds the first minister.

She says the net zero target for 2045 which means Scotland will be carbon neutral by 2040.

Mr Findlay lists a number of issues from "dreadful" train and bus services to cutting ADT as questioning whether Scotland is world leading on climate change.

"It is global experts who describe Scotland's actions as world leading," hits back Ms Sturgeon.

Image source, EPA

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has declared a "climate emergency" in her speech to the SNP conference.

The SNP leader told delegates in Edinburgh she was inspired after meeting young climate campaigners who had gone on strike from school.

Ms Sturgeon said "they are right", and pledged to "live up to our responsibility" to halt climate change.

She pledged that the country would continue to "lead by example" as our obligations to the next generation are "the most important we carry".

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Neil Findlay asks about action to address climate change.

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Ms Sturgeon says the publication of the commission's report is timely and cites the national transport strategy.

Mr Greene commends the work of the commission as it could transform how people travel and commute around Scotland.

The Tory MSP calls for the first minister to ensure the report does not gather dust on the shelves of Glasgow City Council.

Ms Sturgeon praises the work of Professor David Begg and says the report has great potential.

The government will consider all of the commission's recommendations.

Image source, GLASGOW CONNECTIVITY COMMISSION

Glasgow needs a city-wide metro system to reconnect left-behind areas and boost the economy, according to a radical new blueprint.

The Glasgow Connectivity Commission wants about £10bn to be spent over the next 20 years on a range of measures to upgrade the city's transport capacity.

It said the first new link should be to Glasgow Airport via Renfrew, Braehead and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Other tram or light rail lines should then be spread out across the city.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Jamie Greene seeks a response to the the long-term infrastructure recommendations of the Glasgow Connectivity Commission.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, Getty Images

What if... ? It's one of those questions which both fascinate and irritate historians.

But economists at PwC aren't so easily annoyed. They've asked the question: what if Scotland had the same level of immigration and population growth over the past 50 years that the rest of the UK has seen?

The answer includes quite a lot of social and cultural change. But the economists are more interested in what they can see happening to growth.

Because immigrants are typically youngish, resourceful and hard-working, they have a habit of boosting the economic growth rate.

That is why the Scottish government is keen to get more of them, to stop the growth rate stalling.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

The first minister says all of Scotland's future population growth is expected to come from migration, so continuation is vital for public services.

People who arrived in the UK in 2016 are predicted to make a net positive contribution of £27bn to UK public finances over the entirety of their stay, she adds.

Mr McMillan says it is incumbent on every politician to stand up for migrant rights.

Ms Sturgeon says statistics brings into sharp focus the "catastrophic" effect of the UK government ending freedom of movement.

She calls for the devolution of migration powers.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan asks what the social and economic impacts of immigration are.