Business people

EDUCATION

n Jennifer Marion Belcher has been appointed to the faculty ofThe 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign of the Centerfor American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The project'sgoal is to increase the number of women in legislative office. AWest Virginia native, Belcher is a former Washington Statelegislator and a former Washington State commissioner of publiclands. She is a founding partner of Legacy Builders, a Charleston-based executive coaching firm.

LAW

n Roger Nicholson will rejoin the law firm of Jackson Kelly onAug. 1. Nicholson had worked at Jackson Kelly from 2002 until …

Carmona Gets Lifetime Doping Suspension

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican Soccer Federation disqualified Cruz Azul from the national league championship semifinals Friday because the club allowed Salvador Carmona to play after he was handed a lifetime suspension for doping.

Cruz Azul was to have faced Pachuca in the second leg of the semifinals on Sunday after losing the first game 3-1 on Thursday. Pachuca will advance automatically to the finals.

"A sanction of one game was applied to Cruz Azul effective immediately, and the team will not be able to play the semifinal match against Pachuca ... and consequently is eliminated from the 2007 tournament," federation general secretary Decio de Maria announced.

It …

Oil nears $54 on indications demand is up overseas

Signs of increasing energy demand in China, the world's second largest consumer, pushed oil up to near $54 a barrel Monday, but concerns over the state of the economic recovery and the spread of the swine flu continue to hold prices in check.

Benchmark crude for June delivery gained 37 cents to $53.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after settling at $53.20 on Friday.

In the summer of 2008, surging demand from countries like China and India affected almost everyone's pocketbook, with average prices at the pump hitting $4.

"There's nothing more bullish for oil than the Chinese manufacturing sector expanding," said Phil …

CTA subways to stay closed // Shuttle buses to carry commuters

The CTA won't run trains in the State and Dearborn street subwaysthis morning.

But not too many people will have to use the subway anywaybecause scores of Loop office buildings will have to stay closed.

CTA spokeswoman Rosemarie Gulley said Commonwealth Edison hasnot given the agency clearance to restore power, so the subways willremain out of service, with shuttle buses routing riders to and fromdowntown.

"The best advice is to tune in to the radio or TV, becausethat's where the information will be available," Gulley said.

Monday's flooding and power shutdown caused several Loopbusinesses to send workers home early, resulting in a flood …

Taiwanese firms solicit Chinese wedding business

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Hundreds of Taiwanese firms will attend a trade show in Shanghai next week to try to attract big-spending mainland couples to buy Taiwanese wedding paraphernalia, including gowns and photographic albums.

Taiwan's China Times newspaper reported Thursday the Chinese will also be wooed to spend their honeymoons on …

Thais Detain Alleged 'Merchant of Death'

A Russian dubbed the "Merchant of Death" for allegedly supplying weapons to Africa's bloody conflicts over power and diamonds was arrested Thursday in Thailand on suspicion of conspiring to smuggle guns to Colombia's leftist rebels.

Viktor Bout, 41, whose dealings reportedly inspired a 2005 movie about the illicit arms trade, was arrested at U.S. request in his hotel room in Bangkok, said police Lt. Gen. Pongpat Chayapan. Bout had eluded arrest for years and was finally seized after a four-month sting organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

In New York, federal authorities unsealed a criminal complaint charging that Bout conspired to …

Mourinho hit by injury blues

Jose Mourinho is determined to avoid having egg on his face as heprepares for the most important Champions League campaign of hisChelsea tenure.

Chelsea face Norwegian side Rosenborg in their Group B opener atStamford Bridge tonight with the English side favourites to makeshort work of their opponents.

But injuries to Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will again robthe Blues of an attacking edge that saw the pair contribute more than50 goals last …