US, Cuba seek breakthrough in new talks

50 years on, steep obstacles still remain before nations reopen embassies in capitals

US and Cuban negotiators were due to open a second round of historic talks on Friday aimed at overcoming half a century of enmity and restoring full diplomatic ties.

After an initial meeting in Havana in January which ended with little apparent progress, the teams were to meet at the State Department, the hub of US global diplomacy.