New Delhi, Nov 3 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed FIRs in connection with Rs 35,000 crore food grain scam in Uttar Pradesh which took place between March 2004 and October 2005.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati had recommended for the CBI probe into the food grain scam on December 1, 2007.

The CBI has filed nine FIRs related to the scam - eight in Ballia and one in Lakhimpur Kheri where the scam amount was more than Rs one crore. Over 35 government officials were found to be involved in it as per the preliminary CBI probe.

Doha - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived in Abu Dhabi Monday as he completes a four-day Gulf tour which already took him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Brown has already received assurances from Saudi Arabia and Qatar that they will contribute to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) account to stabilize national economies rocked by the global financial crisis.

Jerusalem - Lawmakers from four different ultra-natiolist and religious parties joined forces Monday to present a new united list which they hope will attract votes from much of the right-wing public in Israel, including settlers and their supporters.

The new far-right party, which does not have a name yet, hopes that by uniting it will draw votes away from the hardline, but more mainstream Likud party of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

The four smaller parties which are joining forces are the National Religious Party (NRP), Tkuma, Moledet and Ahi.

They all vehemently oppose the Oslo peace process with the Palestinians, which launched in 1993 calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.

Madrid - During her 33 years as queen, Sofia of Spain had been known for her gentleness and discretion.

But at the time of her 70th birthday, the Greek-born wife of King Juan Carlos stunned the country with a sudden outburst of outspokenness, reigniting a debate about the role of the monarchy.

The queen opened up to journalist Pilar Urbano, whose book "The Queen Up Close" was published just ahead of Sofia's birthday on Sunday, and continued sparking controversy on Monday.

Dusseldorf - Bayer Leverkusen will play their home games in the second half of the Bundesliga season in nearby Dusseldorf but don't see it as a major setback.

"Of course it is a handicap. But I believe we will feel at home there quickly," said Leverkusen managing director Wolfgang Holzhaeuser on Monday.

Leverkusen's BayArena is being extended from its current 22,500 to 30,000 seats until July 2009 which is forcing the team to move out from January onwards. Bayer will play in Dusseldorf's 50,000-seat LTU Arena.

Offenburg, Germany - British actor Christopher Lee, 86, known for his portrayal of Dracula in many horror films, said Monday that he has no plans to give up acting 50 years after achieving his international breakthrough on the silver screen.

"I still fell the passion to play new and interesting roles," Lee said at a Burda Live event in the town of Offenburg in the south-west of Germany.

Lee, who achieved global fame for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the eponymous 1958 film by director Terence Fisher, will appear in four new films in 2009.