south africa president jacob zuma attended a mass prayer meeting on thursday to pray for a successful world cup .

Short summary: president zuma joins prayers for world cup


british american tobacco , the world 's second-biggest maker of cigarettes , said on wednesday that net profits climbed by five percent in the first half .

Short summary: cigarette maker bat says profits rise in first half


a former top justice department aide testified wednesday that she had `` crossed the line '' in considering the political beliefs of applicants for nonpartisan legal jobs and suggested that earlier testimony by attorney general alberto r. gonzales and another top official about the dismissals of federal prosecutors might have been flawed .

Short summary: former gonzales aide says she crossed the line


president boris yeltsin said today that the peace agreement signed today by his chechnya envoy alexander lebed and chechen separatist military chief aslan maskhadov needs additional consideration and further clarification .

Short summary:
yeltsin expects detailed lebed report on chechnya deal