U.S., Cuba move to normalize relations

The United States and Cuba will begin negotiations intended to normalize full diplomatic relations between the two countries, the White House revealed Wednesday morning.

Marking a significant shift in a decades-old policy toward the communist nation, the administration aims to open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than 50 years. As part of the plan, the U.S. released three Cuban spies, while Cuba freed Alan Gross, an American contractor who had been jailed for five years in Cuba.

President Obama will discuss the landmark policy shift and reveal more details about it in a televised address at noon.

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