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Byline: ALAN KATZ; Bloomberg News FINANCIAL CRISIS The dogged Canadian who kept Greenspan in check William White's tussle with Alan Greenspan over how to limit boom-and-bust cycles is spilling into [...]

Bernard Madoff's three-bedroom apartment in the French Riviera's Cap d'Antibes has a partially obstructed sea view and overlooks the tennis courts and swimming pools of larger homes closer to the [...]

Dassault Systemes SA reported strong revenue and earnings growth for the 1998 year. The company attributed the growth to a rise in its market share for computer-aided design and manufacturing. However, additional growth could be problematic in 1999 as a result of a less-amenable econonmic environment, growing sector competition, and the Y2K computer problem's effect on sales of software. The company posted 5.14 francs (88 US cents) in earnings for each share for 1998.

The government of France is expected to announce that Air France will hold an initial public offering of its shares. The government will place approximately 20% of Air France on the stock market. The move would raise between 3.5 billion French francs and four billion francs ($618.5 million to $706.8 million). The IPO will be taking place a year later than initially planned. In addition, Air France's pilots may receive as much as a 12% share in exchange for accepting wage freezes.

Air France Group Chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta expects to see a sale of a minority stake in the airline in January or February 1999. The French government is expected to proceed with its plan to divest around 20% of the carrier, after it was hampered by a pilots' strike in the company. Air France, in its negotiation with its pilots, agreed to sell a maximum of 12% as the pilots agree to salary freezes and education cost repayments. In another development, Air France has been invited to join the creation a global alliance of airlines, but the airline said that it is keeping its options open.

Dassault Systemes, a developer of computer-aided-design and -manufacturing software, has reported net profit of 149.8 million French francs, or $27.3 million, for the third quarter of 1998, up 38% compared to the 108.7 million francs it reported in 1997 for the same quarter. Revenues at Dassault Systemes during the quarter reached 700.8 million francs, up 34% from 524.9 million francs in 1997 for the same period. The strong financial results posted by the company came despite the existing global financial problems. However, analysts expressed concern regarding how the economic crisis will affect investment worldwide in 1999.

Total SA of France is upbeat as it posted total net profit of 3.97 billion French francs, or $676.1 million, for the first half-year indicating an excellent performance in the face of low crude-oil prices. The net earning is slightly down from 3.98 billion French francs in the same period in 1997, while revenue declined by 15% to 82.34 billion francs. Total chairman Thierry Desmarest said the petroleum firm needs no merger as indicated by its persisting profitability and output as well as rising productivity.

Presents letters to the editor on articles and topics in previous issues of "The New York Times." Comment on the few hundred million dollars in tsunami aid given by the U.S. to the affected areas; Agreement with the article, "A high quality of Mercy," which suggest private giving to the tsunami victims; Reaction against the argument that the U.S. is generous with foreign aid once private giving is considered.

Reports that the completion of France's budget deficit was on August 8, 1997 whereby the French government decided to reduce the public deficit by 3 percent of gross domestic product to comply with Maastricht Treaty's rule. Information on the amount the deficit stood at for the month of June 1997; Strategies implemented to reduce the public deficit in 1998.

Reports on March 17, 1997, that the French economy is expected to improve in 1997, but has not shown concrete signs of doing so. Estimates for the gross domestic product; Value of France's current-account surplus; Expectations of increasing industrial activity in the coming months; France's ability to sustain low interest rates; Low possibility of inflation.

Opinion. Looks at the difficulty of getting messages to persons despite the technological advances made in communication, such as answering machines, fax machines, beepers and cellular phones. Recount of the experience of the author.

Reports that the Russian government and a committee of five Western banks plan to start talks on restructuring frozen treasurys of the country. Influence of lawsuits on the restructuring plans; Companies which participated in the negotiations; Significance of the resolution of the lawsuits.

Reports that in an effort to remove the pressure faced by its pay-as-you-go system, France is creating a funded retirement systems. Effects of an attempt to dismantle the system; Reference to takeover moves on French companies by foreign suitors.

Reports on March 17, 1997, that the French economy is expected to improve in 1997, but has not shown concrete signs of doing so. Estimates for the gross domestic product; Value of France's current-account surplus; Expectations of increasing industrial activity in the coming months; France's ability to sustain low interest rates; Low possibility of inflation.

Presents letters to the editor regarding Paul Krugman's article "America's Failing Health," in the August 27, 2004 issue of "The New York Times."