Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided

The latest round of UN-led talks have ended in deadlock, with disputes over plastic production and recycling.

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The UN negotiations, the sixth round of talks in just under three years, were due to end on Thursday but countries continued to negotiate into the night in the hopes of breaking a deadlock.

There remained a split between a group of about 100 nations calling for curbs on production of plastic, and oil states pushing for a focus on recycling.

Speaking in the early hours, Cuban delegates said that countries had "missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going".

"I'm hugely disappointed that an agreement wasn't reached," said the UK's Marine Minister Emma Hardy.