In brief: U.S. calls for release of man held in Cuba

WASHINGTON – The White House marked the fifth anniversary of U.S. contractor Alan Gross’s captivity in Cuba by calling for his release, saying it “would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba.”

Gross, a subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development, has been held in Cuba since his arrest on Dec. 3, 2009, for smuggling satellite communications equipment to Cuba as part of USAID’s pro-democracy programs.

Gross has become increasingly frustrated with the U.S. government and its failure so far to win his freedom, said his wife, Judy, who said Wednesday it was “time for President Obama to bring Alan back to the United States now; otherwise it will be too late.”

Hong Kong protest leaders surrender

HONG KONG – Three founders of a civil disobedience campaign that helped spark Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests surrendered to police Wednesday, saying they want to take responsibility for their actions and that time has come to end the increasingly violent street demonstrations.

Professors Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Chan Kin-man and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming haven’t been charged and left the police station later Wednesday after being warned by authorities that protests that have blocked streets in the Asian financial center for more than two months are illegal.