US eases security for ships visiting Cuba as Obama trip nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. authorities removed Cuba from a list of countries deemed to have insufficient security in their ports, eliminating on Thursday a major impediment to the free flow of shipping in the Florida Straits. The move marks one more step toward normalized relations ahead of President Barack Obama's historic trip to Cuba Sunday. The shift clears the way for U.S. cruise ships, cargo vessels and even ferries to travel back and forth with much less hassle. No longer will all ships have

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. authorities removed Cuba from a list of countries deemed to have insufficient security in their ports, eliminating on Thursday a major impediment to the free flow of shipping in the Florida Straits. The move marks one more step toward normalized relations ahead of President Barack Obama's historic trip to Cuba Sunday. The shift clears the way for U.S. cruise ships, cargo vessels and even ferries to travel back and forth with much less hassle. No longer will all ships have…