June 1, 1999

South Korea's efforts to enlist capital and expertise in overhaul of its financial system has become bogged down in country's stunning recovery from economic crisis; Financial Supervisory Commission, financial watchdog charged with cleaning up South Korea's debt-laden financial institutions, announced that it has extended negotiations over final terms of sale of Seoul Bank to HSBC Holdings PLC until June 30; Korea's economy is growing beyond all expectations, and its stock market hits post-crisis highs nearly every day, as foreign investors register their approval of Government's reform efforts (M)

Jane E Brody article on fleas discusses work of Dr Jay Georgi, who invented artificial dog, device that revolutionized business of breeding fleas for scientific research; Georgi, who also operates a flea farm, boasts that most of new products on the market for controlling fleas were developed using his artificial dog; photo; illustration of cat flea; drawings show how fleas feed (L)

Politics and budgetary battles stand in the way of Triana, Vice Pres Al Gore's proposal for small, inexpensive, simple satellite that would provide the Internet and television viewers with continuous, live pictures of full, sunlit Earth from far out in space; even if it survives budgetary battles, there is still discussion among scientists on what a scientific contribution Triana can make; Gore photo; drawing of Triana satellite (M)

Analysis of two recent securities lawsuits that highlight power that defense lawyers wield in securities-law prosecutions and limits of Securities and Exchange Commission's patience with those who may use that power improperly; focuses on surprise confession of Hartley Bernstein, who committed fraud while serving as lawyer for defunct brokerage firm Sterling Foster and Charles J Hecht, lawyer and partner in Hecht & Steckman, who represented securities lawyer William N Levy in manipulation of the stock of Electro-Optical Systems Corp; both cases detailed (M)

Interview with David Hare on his one-man play Via Dolorosa, in light of Israeli election results; photo (M)