Nicola Sturgeon has said she believes the stalemate with the UK government over its Brexit bill can be resolved.

Scotland's first minister was speaking as she left talks with Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street.

The pair have been at loggerheads over what happens to powers in devolved areas when they return from Brussels after Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon said the differences between them were "not insignificant, but neither are they insurmountable".

• UK ministers want 'temporary control' of devolved areas
• What is the Brexit continuity bill?

She said there was a "determination" on both sides for an agreement to be reached in the coming weeks - although she stressed it was not yet certain a deal would be done.

Read more here.

Noting it is one year until the UK it set to leave the EU, SNP MSP Ivan McKee asks about progress the Scottish government is making on negotiations regarding devolved powers.

Image source, bbc

The first minister says: "I utterly condemn this disgusting so-called campaign."

She details the steps to tackle prejudice and hate in Scotland

Mr Sarwar asks the chamber to imagine they are a Muslim woman or child reading the Punish a Muslim's "shocking, shameful and sickening" words.

The Scottish Labour MSP says the message must be sent that an attack on one Scot regardless of race or religion is an attack on all Scots and you will never win.

The first minister strongly agrees with Mr Sarwar's comments and says any attack on Muslims is an attack on all of us.

She says anyone who chooses to live her needs to know this is their country, their home and we want them here.

Hate crime fo this nature will never be allowed to win, she says.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf and Labour MSP Anas Sarwar have told BBC Scotland that racism and Islamophobia are getting worse in Scotland.

Appearing together on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland, they both said they frequently received violent death threats via social media and in emails.

The MSPs said members of the Muslim community and other faiths had reported increasing levels of abuse.

This included on the street and while engaged in work.

Image source, TellMamaUK

MSPs are to consider further action to tackle an "abhorrent" letter and social media campaign encouraging people to "punish a Muslim".

Counter-terrorism police have been investigating letters sent out around the UK as a possible hate crime.

Images of the A4 notes, which contain a list of violent acts alongside a number of "points" for performing them, have been widely shared online.

There are fears the campaign may have led to physical attacks in Scotland.

Holyrood's cross-party group on tackling Islamophobia discussed the "Punish a Muslim day" letters with Police Scotland representatives on Tuesday.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar queries steps taken to reassure and protect communities in response to the "punish a Muslim" campaign.

Ms Sturgeon says the cost of integration are small in comparison to operational costs.

The first minister says the the total cost is £400,000.

Mr Kerr says there are further costs including a potential blackhole.

The first minister says the government is clear in its commitment to a triple-lock deal on jobs, pay and pensions.

Image source, British Transport Police

The Scottish government has spent £400,000 on consultants regarding the merger of Police Scotland and the British Transport Police, the Scotsman has reported, external.

Calls have been made to abandon the merger, following the announcement last month that it was to be delayed.

Police Scotland has spent £6.6m on consultants since it formed it 2014.

This includes £399,500 for Ernst & Young to oversee the merger.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr inquires about reports that £400,000 was spent on consultants to oversee the British Transport Police merger.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says nobody in a nation as rich as Scotland should have to use foodbanks and she says the government will continue to challenge UK welfare cuts.

The first minister says foodbanks are a lifeline and thanks all the staff and volunteers that support them.

Ms Grahame says it is shameful these foodbanks have to exist in the first place.

"There can be no greater indictment than to have children cueing for food parcels."

The first minister wholeheartedly agrees with that.

Ms Sturgeon says Tory cuts are driving real people to foodbanks across the country, which is "utterly disgraceful".

Image source, Getty Images

Food banks have become an "indispensable part of Scotland's welfare system", external, according to The Herald.

It says Glasgow University researchers have found that food banks are now being "taken for granted" by councils, doctors, housing workers, benefits staff and charities.

Food banks are felt to be more compassionate than government agencies by those that use them, the research also found.

This follows figures in November indicating the use of food banks has risen by 20% in a year.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks about the role of food banks.

New footage of the large-scale culling of mountain hares on grouse moors has led the Scottish government to seek "urgent meetings" with landowners.

It said the cull of Scotland's iconic mountain hares had the potential to put their conservation status at risk.

The video, filmed without the knowledge of those involved, was passed to BBC Scotland by animal rights charities.

It shows teams of gamekeepers using all-terrain vehicles to access remote hillsides and shoot hares last month.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Alison Johnstone raises the footage captured by the BBC of hare-culling and asks when the Scottish government will introduce legal protections.

The first minister says the Scottish government is meeting with all relevant stakeholders to "explore all available options to prevent the mass culling out mountain hares", including a licensing scheme.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Graeme Dey raises the issue of seasonal migrant workers in the soft fruit industry.

The first minister says: "This is the point where the Tories look at their feet."

Ms Sturgeon adds that "We cannot trust a single word Michael Gove says."

She goes on to say the same about Ruth Davidson on the issue.

Image source, PA

The Scottish government's alternative to the EU Withdrawal Bill has been passed by MSPs.

Ministers put forward their "continuity bill" as part of an ongoing row over UK frameworks of post-Brexit powers.

It has undergone more than 20 hours of debate and scrutiny across three weeks, and the finalised bill was backed by a margin of 95 votes to 32.

Brexit minister Mike Russell said he still hoped to strike a deal with the UK government rather than use the bill.

Read more here.

Mr Harvie says fish issues must be shared between countries and says without CFP there would be no cod in the seas or the shops.

He calls for a shared approach going forward.

Ms Sturgeon says she has argued to come out of the CFP as it is not fair to Scottish fishermen.