September 7, 1998

San Francisco 49ers defeat New York Jets, 36-30, in overtime in season opener; photos (M)

Viktor S Chernomyrdin, facing Parliament vote on his nomination as Prime Minister, warns Russia is in fiscal nose dive and that further political squabbling could lead to social chaos, television interview; says economic situation is so dire that 'no classical anti-crisis' steps apply; apparently defends seemingly contradictory parts of his fiscal plan; he and Acting Deputy Prime Min Boris G Fyodorov detail plan; Fyodorov calls for again making American dollar legal tender in Russia; photos (M)

Mark Green, who lives on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Charles Schumer from Brooklyn and Geraldine Ferraro all claim some Upstate ties in primary campaign appearances outside New York City area (S)

Latest twist in Bennett Funding Group's alleged pyramid scheme involves court battle between former SEC chairman Richard C Breeden, trustee trying to get money back, and Justice Department official Guy A Van Baalen, who supervises bankruptcies in northern New York; Breeden has had unusual success, mailing checks to investors totaling $50 million; that amounts to only about six cents for every dollar lost, but most victims of pyramid schemes usually get nothing at all; 10,000 people, including many New York, New Jersey and Florida retirees, lost as much as $600 million in collapse of firm that financed equipment leases; Van Baalen charges overbilling by Breeden, who gets $600,000 a year, and conflicts of interest; photo; dispute delays sale of sstock in Equivest, which Breeden says is only valuable asset left (M)

Republican and Democratic candidates say Lewinsky matter, jittery stock market and tumult abroad have thrust them into unsettled and unpredictable election season as fall campaigns open; Republicans say they have most to gain from uncertainty, particularly from Pres Clinton's problems; have revised earlier predictions of modest gains, holding they could capture over 12 more House seats and five Senate seats; Democrats find selves on defensive, with party leaders lowering expectations and some candidates distancing selves from Pres Clinton; photos of candidates in key races; graphs (M)