In brief: U.S. wants China to end cybertheft

WASHINGTON – The White House called Monday for “serious steps” by China to stop cybertheft, which it described as intolerable to the international community.

National security adviser Tom Donilon’s comments reflect growing concern in Washington over the security risk posed by cyberintrusions and the economic costs for America.

Donilon said U.S. businesses are increasingly speaking out about cybertheft of confidential business information and proprietary technologies emanating from China “on a very large scale.” He said Beijing “should take serious steps to investigate and put a stop to these activities” and recognize the risk it poses to international trade and to U.S.-China relations.

“The international community cannot afford to tolerate such activity from any country,” Donilon told the Asia Society in New York.

He called for China to engage in a constructive dialogue with the U.S. to establish “acceptable norms of behavior in cyberspace.”

Chavez’s chosen registers to run

CARACAS, Venezuela – Thousands of cheering, crying admirers accompanied President Hugo Chavez’s hand-picked successor Monday as he registered to be a candidate to replace the dead leader, while forcing the main opposition candidate to delay his entry into the race.

The massive crowd thronged acting President Nicolas Maduro and blocked opposition candidate Henrique Capriles from registering for the April 14 vote by the 2 p.m. deadline.

The Capriles campaign told the Associated Press that an aide registered for the candidate at the election commission later Monday afternoon.

Maduro also announced a change in Chavez’s final resting place Monday, and the information ministry later said that officials had not decided what will happen to the late president’s body. Last week, Maduro had said the body would be embalmed and perpetually displayed in the country’s military museum.