Sunday, August 18, 2013

US to send $148mn to Palestinian Authority

US to send $148mn to Palestinian Authority

The United States is to send another $148 million to the Palestinian Authority to boost its budget, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported. The US consul general in Jerusalem, Michael Ratney, signed an agreement with Palestinian caretaker Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Sunday. This comes as Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Jerusalem for negotiations brokered by the US on Wednesday in an effort to strike a peace deal.

3,500 Morsi loyalists arrested in 5 days – Brotherhood lawyer

3,500 Morsi loyalists arrested in 5 days – Brotherhood lawyer

Egypt’s security forces have arrested 3,500 supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi since Wednesday, Ahram Online cited Muslim Brotherhood lawyer Mustafa El-Demeery as saying. El-Demeery said about 2,000 Morsi loyalists were arrested during the dispersal of the Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda sit-ins on Wednesday. Some 1,500 more were arrested during clashes between Morsi supporters, security forces and downtown Cairo residents in and around Ramses Square on Friday, the lawyer said. Prosecutors have ordered the continued detention of more than 400 Morsi loyalists arrested during the Ramses Square clashes, according to Ahram Online. The rest of the detained are reportedly being questioned.

Libya’s interior minister resigns

Libya’s interior minister resigns

Mohammed Khalifa al-Sheikh, Libya’s interior minister, handed in his resignation Sunday due to differences with the government over his responsibilities. Sheikh, a former Tripoli police colonel, was appointed to his post since May, after his predecessor Ashour Shuail also resigned.

‘Spanish Armada’ protests concrete dumping off Gibraltar

‘Spanish Armada’ protests concrete dumping off Gibraltar

A flotilla of Spanish fishing boats staged a protest Sunday against the dumping of 70 three-ton concrete blocks into the sea by authorities on the Rock of Gibraltar, one of Britain’s last colonial outposts off the Spanish coast. Spanish fishermen claim a dispute over disputed waters around the island has cost them 1.5 million euro over the past year, while Spain’s government has imposed lengthy border checks and threatened to impose a 50 euro crossing fee. Britain claims the measures are politically motivated, and PM David Cameron has called on the European Commission to send a team of monitors.

Russia's 'gay propaganda' law mustn't affect Sochi - IOC

Russia's 'gay propaganda' law mustn't affect Sochi - IOC

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Games must remain open to all, “regardless of ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation,"said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), German newspaper Tagesspiegel reported. "The Games themselves must be open to all, this applies to spectators, officials, journalists and, of course, the athletes," Rogge said. "The IOC will continue to work to ensure that the Games take place without discrimination.” On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law prohibiting homosexual propaganda to minors. LGBT activists around the world have protested that the law could be used against participants at the Sochi Olympics.

UN chemical weapons investigators arrive in Syria

UN chemical weapons investigators arrive in Syria

UN investigators on Sunday arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons. Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom, who previously investigated chemical weapons in Iraq, is heading the group, which is due to start its work August 19 and work for at least two weeks. The UN team will head first to Khan al-Assal in Aleppo, where the Syrian government says rebels used chemical weapons in March. Two additional locations have not been yet named. Both the government and rebel forces have accused each other of using chemical weapons. The UN said it has received 13 reports of chemical weapons use, including investigations by Russia, the US, Britain and France.

Trial of disgraced Chinese ‘princeling’ Bo Xilai to start Thursday

Trial of disgraced Chinese ‘princeling’ Bo Xilai to start Thursday

Bo Xilai, the disgraced Chinese Communist Party boss in the city of Chongqing, is set to go on trial Thursday on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power. The long-anticipated trial of Bo, the so-called “princeling” son of a former vice premier, will be the country’s highest-profile prosecution since 1976, when Mao Zedong's widow Jiang Qing and her Gang of Four were expelled from power at the end of the Cultural Revolution. Bo's jailed wife, Gu Kailai, who was found guilty in 2011 of murder of British businessman Neil Heywood in Chongqing, is likely to be the key witness for the prosecution.

Death toll may reach 200 in Philippines ferry disaster

Death toll may reach 200 in Philippines ferry disaster

Hopes of finding survivors from a sunken ferry in the Philippines faded Sunday as the search operation for 171 missing passengers was called off. Thirty-one people are known to have died in the collision between the ferry Thomas Aquinas and a cargo ship, the Sulcon Express 7. A total of 723 passengers and 118 crew were aboard the ferry when it sank in just a half-hour after the collision at 9pm local time on Friday.

US-born al-Qaeda militant calls for attacks on western diplomats

US-born al-Qaeda militant calls for attacks on western diplomats

A California-born al-Qaeda extremist has urged followers to carry out more attacks on western diplomats in the Middle East. Adam Gadahn appealed to wealthy Muslims to offer extremists rewards for carrying out terror attacks, a US-based monitoring group reported. Gadahn is a convert to Islam and currently has a $1 million price on his head.
Tim Wall

N. Korea agreed to restart discussions to reunion families separated since by 1950-53 war

N. Korea agreed to restart discussions to reunion families separated since by 1950-53 war

Pyongyangaccepted Seoul’s proposal to return to negotiation table to discuss reunions of families separated by the Korean War the Yonhap news agency reported. The working groups from both sides will meet next Friday, August 23. According to official statistics, At present, about 73,000 residents of South Korea aged over 70 still hope to see their relatives living in North Korea they have not seen for half a century now.

EU to review relationship with Egypt

EU to review relationship with Egypt

The EU will review its relations with Egypt, according to a joint statement by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. The leaders of the 28-member bloc have called for an immediate halt to violence in Egypt, for the resumption of political dialogue and a return to democratic rule. “While all should exert maximum restraint, we underline the particular responsibility of the interim authorities and of the army in bringing clashes to a halt,” the statement reads.

WikiLeaks posts 400 gigabytes of encrypted ‘insurance’ data online

WikiLeaks posts 400 gigabytes of encrypted ‘insurance’ data online


WikiLeaks has released a trove of encrypted “insurance” data on Twitter and Facebook. The data can’t be read without an encryption key, but the movement’s supporters say that could be published later in case anything happens to leading WikiLeaks figures.
The whistleblowing organization published links for a massive 400 gigabytes worth of encrypted data it described as “insurance documents” on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. It is possible to download the files but advanced encoding prevents them from being opened. 
The group described encryption as a necessary measure in light of previous attempts to block its leaking of classified information. 
The practice of encoding data and then later releasing the key is not uncommon for WikiLeaks, but the sheer size of the files has attracted considerable attention. WikiLeaks followers on Facebook and Twitter speculated on what the documents might contain, and also that the key would be released if anything should happen to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange or NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 
“They're files that will not have the passwords released unless something happens to specific individuals associated with WikiLeaks. Like the insurance file for Assange, which is more from the cables and info Manning leaked out,” Facebook user Tom-Eric Halvorsen wrote on WikiLeaks’ profile page. 
The organization aided Snowden in his negotiations on temporary asylum in Russia following the leaking of classified US government data that revealed the NSA’s global surveillance programs. WikiLeaks has indicated that the data disclosed so far is only the tip of the iceberg, and that more revelations will follow. 
However, there could be problems ahead for Snowden if more leaks are released, as the Russian government says that as a part of the temporary asylum agreement, Snowden should refrain from releasing data that “damages” the US. The whistleblower applied for asylum in Russia after the US voided his passport, leaving him stranded in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for over a month. 
Washington has branded the former NSA contractor a fugitive and issued an extradition order against him on charges of espionage. 
In the wake of the revelations about the US government’s global spying programs, the Obama administration has sought to justify mass surveillance as a necessary evil to protect national security. Even so, President Barack Obama has announced a number of reforms to the NSA to increase its transparency and regulate the information collected by the government. 

Iran has 18,000 uranium-enrichment centrifuges – nuclear chief



Iran has 18,000 uranium-enrichment centrifuges – nuclear chief

Iran has 18,000 uranium-enrichment centrifuges, the country's outgoing nuclear chief said on Saturday, according to ISNA news agency. According to Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, the Islamic republic has 17,000 older "first-generation" IR-1 centrifuges, of which 10,000 are operating and 7,000 are ready to start operations. One thousand of the country's centrifuges are an advanced new model, he added. The UN previously estimated Iran to have 16,600 IR-1 machines in its nuclear research facilities.

UK embassy in Yemen to reopen Sunday



UK embassy in Yemen to reopen Sunday

The British embassy in Sanaa, Yemen will reopen on Sunday August 18 after being closed for over ten days due to a security threat. “British Embassy #Yemen open as normal from Sunday 18 August. Apologies for the brief hiatus," British Ambassador Jane Marriott tweeted. On August 6, the UK Foreign Office closed its embassy and withdrew all staff due to a high threat of kidnapping. The US embassy in Yemen remains closed.

US ‘ready for female president’ - Michelle Obama

US ‘ready for female president’ - Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama waded into the debate about the 2016 US election, saying that America was “ready” for a woman as president. “It’s just a question of who’s the best person out there,” the First Lady said in an interview to Parade magazine. “Children born in the last eight years will only know an African-American man being president of the United States. That changes the bar for all of our children, regardless of their race, their sexual orientation, their gender. It expands the scope of opportunity in their minds. And that’s where change happens.” Michelle Obama refused to speculate, however, on whether former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would run for the presidency in 2016.

Assassination TIME: Sr. journalist ‘can’t wait’ to justify drone strike that will kill Assange

Assassination TIME: Sr. journalist ‘can’t wait’ to justify drone strike that will kill Assange

TIME Magazine Cover: Julian Assange
TIME Magazine Cover: Julian Assange

The unethical and legally questionable statement made by TIME magazine’s senior national correspondent has been met with a barrage of criticism. Although Michael Grunwald deleted the comment and apologized, WikiLeaks is still pushing for his resignation.
The scandal was sparked by a Twitter post on Grunwald’s account which stated that he is eager to write an article on Julian Assange’s execution by a drone.  
WikiLeaks tweeted that they have sent a letter to the publication demanding Grunwald’s resignation. They have said that the magazine must show that journalists calling for the murder of other journalists is “never acceptable.” 

Hacker posts Facebook bug report on Zuckerberg’s wall



Hacker posts Facebook bug report on Zuckerberg’s wall

Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru


Hacker posts Facebook bug report on Zuckerberg’s wall

Published time: August 17, 2013 22:28
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru
A Palestinian information system expert says he was forced to post a bug report on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page after the social network’s security team failed to recognize that a critical vulnerability he found allows anyone to post on someone's wall.
The vulnerability, which was reported by a man calling himself ‘Khalil,’ allows any Facebook user to post anything on the walls of other users - even when those users are not included in their list of friends. He reported the vulnerability through Facebook’s security feedback page, which offered a minimum reward of US$500 for each real security bug report. 
However, the social network’s security team failed to acknowledge the bug, even though Khalil enclosed a link to a post he made on the timeline of a random girl who studied at the same college as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“Sorry, this is not a bug,” Facebook’s security team said in response to Khalil’s second report, in which he offered to reproduce the discussed vulnerability on a test account of Facebook security expert.
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru

After receiving the reply, Khalil claims he had no choice but to showcase the problem on Mark Zuckerberg’s wall.
Screenshots on his blog show that Khalil shared details of the exploit, as well as his disappointing experience with the security team, on the Facebook founder’s wall.
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru
Image from khalil-sh.blogspot.ru

Just minutes after the post, Khalil says he received a response from a Facebook engineer requesting all the details about the vulnerability. His account was blocked while the security team rushed to close the loophole.
After receiving the third bug report, a Facebook security engineer finally admitted the vulnerability but said that Khalil won’t be paid for reporting it because his actions violated the website’s security terms of service.
Although Facebook’s White Hat security feedback program sets no reward cap for the most “severe”and “creative” bugs, it sets a number of rules that security analysts should follow in order to be eligible for a cash reward. Facebook did not specify which of the rules Khalil had broken.
Somewhere between the second and third vulnerability reports, Khalil also recorded a video of himself reproducing the bug. 
In its latest reply, Facebook reinstated Khalil’s account and expressed hope that he will continue to work with Facebook to find more vulnerabilities.

Venice gondola tourist crushed to death

Venice gondola tourist crushed to death

Gondola in Venice, 17 AugustThe gondola, right, was in collision with a waterbus
A tourist has been crushed to death during a gondola ride on the famous Grand Canal in Venice.
The German man, 50, was with his wife and three children in a gondola when it was in a collision with a "vaporetto", or water bus.
The water bus, which carries the public around the canals of the city, was either docking at or leaving the Rialto stop when the collision occurred.
A three-year-old girl is being treated for head injuries.
She was taken to hospital in nearby Padua.
The girl and the rest of her family were thrown into the water by the force of the collision.
Crowded waterways
Venice fire chief of staff, Giovanni Carlesso, said the vaporetto had apparently not seen the gondola.
The father appeared to have been crushed between the two vessels.
"I am really sad after what has happened," said Venice mayor Giorgio Orsoni.
An investigation has been launched.
The flat-bottomed gondolas are all painted black and were for centuries the main form of transportation around Venice's lagoons.
Their main function now is as a tourist attraction.
Gondoliers are controlled by a guild that oversees training and issues limited licences.
Questions are often raised about safety given the crowded waterways.
In 2011, four Spanish tourists were thrown into the water after their gondola was hit by the wake of a motorboat. They were quickly rescued.
In 2004, a family of Dutch tourists was also thrown into a canal.

Philippines ferry crash: Search for survivors

Philippines ferry crash: Search for survivors

Residents look for missing relatives on a list of survivors in Cebu on 17 August, a day after a ferry collided with a cargo ship and sankMany people are still looking for relatives who were onboard the ferry'
Search teams have resumed efforts to find dozens of people still missing after a ferry and a cargo ship collided in the Philippines.
At least 34 people died when the MV Thomas Aquinas sank off the central port of Cebu on Friday with more than 800 people onboard, officials said.
Poor weather has disrupted attempts to send down divers into the wreckage.
A navy spokesman said it was possible survivors could be found inside air pockets, although chances were slim.
The number of people officially listed as missing was reduced on Sunday to 85 from 170 due to tallying issues, Agence France-Presse news agency reported.
More than 600 people have been rescued since the collision, which happened in calm waters around 2km (1.2 miles) from the shore.
Coastguard and military vessels helped with the search operation, but it has been hampered by rough seas.
The BBC's Jonathan Head: Frightening ordeal for passengers
Navy spokesman Lt Cdr Gregory Fabic told AFP the weather had prevented divers from reaching the interior of the sunken vessel, where many of those missing were believed trapped.
"It is possible that there are air pockets in its compartments and there might be survivors," he said.
"There is still hope that there might just be survivors there."
Suspended
Survivors said hundreds of passengers jumped into the ocean as the ferry began taking on water and listing on Friday evening. The crew distributed life jackets.
Map
Many were asleep when the crash happened and others struggled to find their way in the dark, reports said.
One survivor, Jerwin Agudong, said he and other passengers jumped overboard in front of the cargo vessel.
"It seems some people were not able to get out," Mr Agudong told radio station DZBB. "I pity the children. We saw dead bodies on the side, and some being rescued."
It is believed 58 babies were among the passengers on board but it is unclear how many of them died.
Many of the survivors were sick from swallowing seawater and oil that is thought to have spilled from the ferry.
A cluster of life rafts floats near the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete Saturday Aug 17, 2013, a day after it collided with a passenger ferry in central PhilippinesLife rafts floated alongside the cargo ship after the ferry sank
1/4
A coast guard official told reporters that the cargo ship, Sulpicio Express 7, had 36 crew members on board, but it did not sink.
It emerged on Saturday that Span Asia Carrier Corp, the company that owns the cargo ship, also owned the ferry involved in the world's worst maritime disaster in peacetime, which occurred in the Philippines in December 1987.

PHILIPPINE FERRY DISASTERS

  • 1987: Dona Paz ferry sinks after colliding with a fuel tanker, 4,341 people die.
  • 2008: The ferry MV Princess of the Stars capsizes during a typhoon, killing nearly 800.
More than 4,000 people died when the Dona Paz ferry collided with a tanker.
Maritime accidents are quite frequent in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical storms, badly maintained passenger boats and weakly enforced safety regulations.
Passengers on the ferry involved in Friday's collision had embarked at Nasipit in the southern province of Agusan del Sur.
The 11,000 tonne ferry was 40 years old, and operated by a Chinese-owned company called 2Go, reports the BBC's South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head.
The company became the largest ferry operator in the Philippines three years ago, following a merger of several smaller firms, our correspondent adds.

Iran's Hassan Rouhani pledges 'slogan-free diplomacy'

Iran's Hassan Rouhani pledges 'slogan-free diplomacy'

A handout picture released by the Iranian president's official website shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) handing over a decree to newly appointed Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R), during a ceremony at the foreign ministry in Tehran on SaturdayPresident Rouhani (left) pledged a "change of method" in foreign policy as he inugurated his new Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif
Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani has pledged to move away from sloganeering in foreign diplomacy.
During the inauguration of his new foreign minister, he said one of the reasons he was elected was to change his country's foreign policy.
But he said this did not mean Iran abandoning its principles.
The country's outgoing nuclear chief later said Iran boasted about 18,000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment - of which 10,000 were operational.
Fereydun Abbasi-Davani's announcement came as he handed over his post as head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) on Saturday to former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, appointed by Mr Rouhani.
The operational centrifuges are of the older IR1 type, with a further 7,000 ready to be installed along with 1,000 centrifuges of the advanced IR2m type.
Iran's nuclear programme has been the subject of a sustained diplomatic tussle with Western powers, who say they suspect it is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Iran rejects this, saying its programme is purely civilian.
But its new leader - the surprise victor of the elections held on 14 June - has pledged to pursue "serious" talks with the West to ease tensions and in so doing improve an economy hit hard by international sanctions and internal mismanagement.
Foreign policy 'key'
On Saturday, President Rouhani implied that he would move away from the bombastic style of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
"Foreign policy is not carried out by repeating slogans," he said.
"One of the messages of the voters in the presidential election was that they wanted a change in foreign policy," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying at the inauguration of the new Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif.
"That doesn't mean abandoning our principles but it does mean a change of method.
"We are going to strongly defend our national interests but that has to be done appropriately, precisely and rationally," the president said.
"The public will pay dearly for any foreign policy mistake."
Foreign policy was "key to solving our current problems", Mr Rouhani said.
Mr Rouhani took office on 4 August and on Thursday all but three of his 18 cabinet choices were approved by parliament. Many of those new ministers have lived or been educated in the West, as has the president himself.


Diana death: New information assessed by Scotland Yard

Diana death: New information assessed by Scotland Yard

CCTV footage of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed on the day before they diedPrincess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died after leaving the Ritz Hotel in Paris on 31 August 1997
The Metropolitan Police is assessing new information it has recently received about the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed in 1997.
Scotland Yard said it was "scoping" the information and "assessing its relevance and credibility".
It said it was "not a re-investigation" into the deaths of the couple in a Paris car crash on 31 August 1997.
An inquest in 2008 found they had been unlawfully killed, partly due to the "gross negligence" of their driver.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the assessment would be carried out by officers from the specialist crime and operations command.
It added that the deaths had been "thoroughly investigated and examined" by the inquest held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Reports in several British Sunday newspapers suggest there are allegations the military was involved and that information had been passed to the police by an Army source.
A Met Police spokesman said that the force would "not discuss the source of the information" it was assessing.
A royal spokeswoman also said there would be no comment on the matter from Prince William or Prince Harry, or from Clarence House.
A spokesman for Mr Al Fayed said he had no comment to make, but said he will be "interested in seeing the outcome", adding that he trusted the Met to investigate the information "with vigour".
Paparazzi on motorbikes
Scotland Yard said its assessment did not come under Operation Paget - the police investigation into allegations that the princess and Mr Al Fayed, her boyfriend, were murdered.
The wreckage of the car after the crash which killed Princess DianaThe car carrying Princess Diana crashed in a tunnel
It was a theory endorsed at the time by Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, the then owner of London store Harrods.
But in December 2006, the report into Operation Paget said it had found no evidence of murder and dismissed all conspiracy theories surrounding the deaths.
Operation Paget concluded, just like the French investigation in 1999, that driver Henri Paul had been drunk and driving at excessive speed.
Responding to reports of the new information, a spokesman for Mohamed Al Fayed said he would be "interested in seeing the outcome" and trusted the Met would investigate "with vigour".
Princess Diana, the former wife of the Prince of Wales and the mother of Princes William and Harry, was 36 when she died alongside Mr Al-Fayed, 42.
Mr Paul was driving when their hired Mercedes crashed into a pillar in Paris's Pont de l'Alma tunnel.
The crash happened after the couple had left the Ritz Hotel and were pursued by paparazzi on motorbikes. Mr Al-Fayed's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was the only survivor.
At the inquest into their deaths, the jury found the couple had been unlawfully killed and the deaths were the result of "gross negligence" on the part of Mr Paul and the paparazzi.
The paparazzi pursuit, Mr Paul's drink-driving and a lack of seatbelts contributed to the deaths, the jury said.
The inquest lasted more than three months and heard from 250 witnesses.
After the hearing it was announced that its cost had reached £4.5m, with a further £8m spent on the Metropolitan Police investigation.

British embassy in Yemen capital Sanaa reopens

British embassy in Yemen capital Sanaa reopens

The British embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa has reopened after it was closed for nearly two weeks over "increased security concerns".
All UK staff based in Sanaa were sent home after messages between the head of al-Qaeda and the group's head in Yemen about a major attack were intercepted.
US embassies across the Middle East and North Africa were also closed.
Yemen welcomed the move but little information has been released about the reasons for the decision.
Police securing a street leading to the British embassy in Yemen earlier this month Yemeni patrols secured streets near the British embassy earlier this month
'Suicide attacks'
A terror alert was sparked after secret plans discussed by al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and Nasser al-Wuhayshi were picked up by US intelligence officials.
Unprecedented security measures were taken in Sanaa, with hundreds of armoured vehicles deployed.
Speaking at the time, the BBC's Abdullah Ghorab, in Sanaa, said a security source had confirmed that Yemeni intelligence services had discovered that dozens of al-Qaeda members had arrived in the city in the preceding days in preparation for a major attack.
The source suggested it was to include explosions and suicide attacks aimed at Western diplomatic missions and Yemeni military headquarters.
The BBC's Rami Ruhayem said the reopening of the embassy appeared to suggest the perceived danger had passed.
But assessments were being made behind closed doors, and most of the media had only received fragments of information about the reasons for both its closure and subsequent reopening, he said.
Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has recently suffered a series of setbacks after the military launched an offensive in June with the help of US forces.

Gibraltar dispute: Spanish fishermen to protest

Gibraltar dispute: Spanish fishermen to protest

Spanish fishermen are due to sail out later to protest near the spot where Gibraltar's government has placed 70 concrete blocks, in the disputed waters near the British territory.
While Gibraltar says it has created an artificial reef, the fishermen say it restricts their right to fish.
The row has led to tensions between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain, which has imposed tougher checks at the border.
Madrid says the checks are needed to tackle tobacco smuggling.
But the UK has accused Spain of breaking EU free movement rules. Lengthy delays at the border have been reported on several occasions in recent weeks.
Dozens of Spanish fishing boats are expected to sail from the "Campo de Gibraltar" - the area in southern Spain just over the border from the British territory.
Motorists queue at the border crossing between Spain and Gibraltar in La Linea de la Concepcion, 13 AugustIncreased vehicle checks at Spain's border with Gibraltar have led to delays
They plan to protest in the spot where Gibraltar dropped the concrete blocks into the sea off its coast, with the aim of creating an artificial reef and encouraging sea-life to flourish.
The Spanish government has accused Gibraltar of laying the blocks "without the necessary authorisation" in "waters that are not theirs", contravening environmental laws and damaging Spain's fishing industry.
The BBC's Tom Burridge is drowned out by the sound of car horns as motorists wait to exit Gibraltar
Madrid responded by increasing border controls and announcing it was considering a 50 euro (£43) fee to cross its border with Gibraltar.
Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokesman said on Friday that British PM David Cameron had called EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to raise "serious concerns" that Spain's extra border checks were politically motivated and "disproportionate" - and broke EU rules on freedom of movement.
The UK wanted to resolve the row through "political dialogue", the spokesman added.
But as the checks continued, the UK was "collating evidence on the sporadic nature of these measures which would prove that they are illegitimate", said the spokesman.
He said the prime minister had urged President Barroso to "send an EU monitoring team to the Gibraltar-Spain border urgently to gather evidence of the checks that are being carried out".
A European Commission spokesman said President Barroso had told Mr Cameron the situation was being monitored to "ensure respect for EU law".
Royal Navy warship HMS Westminster, which left Portsmouth last weekend, is due to arrive in Gibraltar on Monday in a visit described by the Ministry of Defence as "long-planned" as part of "a range of regular and routine deployments".
Gibraltar