Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan finally expressed regret for his remarks on the family of slain National Security Guard commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

"I am sad that Sandeep's family was hurt by my remark. I apologise for that," Achuthanandan said at a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram.

"If my comments have hurt Major Unnikrishnan's family, I'm sorry and I regret it. But now the Opposition is trying to misinterpret it. So I thought of giving a clarification," he said.

About 200 films will be screened in the 13th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) to be held at Thiruvananthapuram from December 12 to December 19.

The organizers hope that the festival would give a chance to the public as well as the cine artistes to understand the changes happening around the globe.

World-famous Latin American Film ace Fernando Berry will be the Chief Guest in the festival.

Poor, homeless and unprivileged people of Kerala have a reason to cheer. The state government has launched a Rs 50 billion project to provide homes for the scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) category.

Houses would be provided by the end of May 2011 to thousands of poor families as per Kerala chief minister, V .S. Achuthanandan, who was addressing the representatives of 27 organizations, campaigning for the rights of the underprivileged.

Palakkad (Kerala), Nov 24 : When we talk about a rock garden, the first picture that comes to mind is Chandigarh''s famous rock garden. Now, Kerala too has come up with its own rock garden, though less famous.

In an effort to restore it, a US team has arrived here.

The Malampurzha Rock Garden, located in Kerala’s Palakkad District, attracts few visitors due to its inaccessibility and dilapidated condition.

Nek Chand Foundation Coordinator Professor Tony Rojer has arrived with a four-member team from University of Colorado, USA to repair statues that have been spoiled.

Father Jose Puthrikayil, arrested in the sister Abhaya murder case, had filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the order of a chief judicial magistrate.

Earlier he was remanded to 14 days' CBI custody by the order of the Magistrate.

The High Court is likely to hear the case on Nov 24.

Puthrikayil was arrested along with Father Thomas Kottur and Sister Sephi in connection with the murder of Sister Abahya.

Sister Abhaya, a Nun of the St Pius convent was murdered on March 27, 1992.