JAPANESE FISHING BOAT SEIZED.

Tokyo has protested the October 12 seizure of a Japanese fishing boat by Russian border forces. The 10-ton trawler, with a crew of five men, was fishing in waters off the disputed Kuril Islands. It was the first seizure of a Japanese boat by Russian forces since September, 1995. The two sides also exchanged accusations following an August 28 incident in which Russian forces fired on two Japanese fishing boats, wounding one crewman. (Itar-Tass, October 13. See Monitor, August 30)

Moscow Still Hopes for Completion of Cuban Nuclear Plant.