September 26, 1993

WHEN almost everyone on Wall Street seems certain of something, one thing is likely: those who follow that wisdom will overpay. So it is now, in the great takeover battle for Paramount Communications. Wall Street is sure Paramount (annual revenues $4.2 billion) will be taken over. The question is whether the buyer will be Viacom ($1.9 billion revenues) or QVC ($1.2 billion).

Inner Conflicts in Sarajevo The defense of Sarajevo rests on a fractious alliance between ethnically mixed army units and paramilitary groups that are increasingly at odds with one another. Page 20. Competing Claims in Amazon Oil drillers and "nature tourist" companies argue that Ecuador's wealthy Amazon region isn't big enough for both industries. Page 3. Clinton in New York City President Clinton's arrival in New York today will mean more traffic delays than usual due to security concerns from the trade center bombing trial and fears of terrorism. Page 39. Punishment in Los Angeles Tomorrow, the two police officers convicted in the beating of Rodney G. King join a tormented fraternity of imprisoned law officers. Page 26. Barge Company Under Cloud Entangled in the Amtrak crash is a major barge-towing company with a sterling safety record. Page 28.

Starting today, The Times's suggested Sunday newsstand price increases to $2 in the greater New York metropolitan area. The weekday price, and the newsstand price outside the New York region, are unchanged.

AFTER growing up in Cincinnati and graduating from college, Tracy Hildebrand and Cheryl Braje moved to Manhattan earlier this year and embarked on what is, perhaps, the city's first and most daunting survival test: finding an apartment. With little trouble, Ms. Hildebrand found the apartment of her dreams. She moved in with two other young women in an affordable three-bedroom apartment in a modern doorman building in a safe, affluent block on the Upper East Side.

Don Mattingly smacked into a double play with the bases loaded against Al Leiter. Mike Gallego flubbed a routine grounder that led to Toronto's first run. Frank Tanana walked in that critical run. Steve Farr yielded a devastating two-run single to Devon White. Leiter allowed one hit in six shutout innings. Al Leiter? The stream of negatives was endless for the Yankees today, and their embarrassment has escalated. They had spoken boldly of sweeping three games from Toronto so they could maintain their slight chances of winning the division. But they lost Friday night, and the Blue Jays rode Leiter's surprisingly solid start to a 3-1 victory today. Now the Yankees are simply trying to avoid witnessing the Jays celebrate another division title Sunday. It might be unavoidable. The Yankees should bring sunglasses.