June 5, 2000

Administration officials had insisted that the meeting between the American and Russian presidents should not be viewed as focusing on arms control. But it was. The main purpose was to soften the Kremlin's resistance to American plans for a limited missile defense and to pave the way for a new arms control framework by the end of the Clinton presidency. Two days of meetings, however, failed to produce progress on either count, and the prospects for a breakthrough on Mr. Clinton's watch seem as dim as ever.

Los Angeles Lakers win NBA Western Conference championship; defeat Portland Trail Blazers, 89-84, to win series, 4-3; photo (M)

New York City's annual Salute To Israel Parade held on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan; Senate candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rick A Lazio shake hands and stand side by side, both vowing to support political and economic stability of Israel; candidates are greeted with intense, even angry, statements from Jewish marchers and spectators as division among Jews over Senate candidates is starkly on display; photo (M)

Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus is withdrawn from Belmont States with hoof injury; for first time in 30 years, third jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown will not have either Kentucky Derby winner or Preakness winner in starting gate (M)

George Vecsey Sports of The Times column holds that majority of Atlanta Braves want team to get rid of pitcher John Rocker following his latest outburst at Sports Illustrated reporter Jeff Pearlman; photo (M)