CM seeks IT exemption for investments in road safety programmes
Chandigarh, Feb 7 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought Income Tax (IT) exemption for industry and corporate houses investing in the road safety programmes approved by the government in the forthcoming Union budget for the Financial year 2012-13. Read Full Story

Punjab CM, Dy CM greet people on Ravidas Jayanti
Chandigarh, Feb 6: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today greeted the people on the 635th 'Parkash Utsav' of Sri Guru Ravidas-a great spiritual ambassador and messiah of the poor and unprivileged sections of society. Read Full Story

Minimum temperatures above normal in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, Feb 6 : The minimum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana remained one to five degrees above normal Monday, an official said here. Read Full Story

Badal reviews status of heritage and cultural memorials
Chandigarh, Feb 6: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the progress of the martyrs' memorials being built in the state besides the Harpal Tiwana Academy of Performing Arts Patiala, Ishmeet Music Academy Ludhiana and Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at Raikot Bassian village in Ludhiana district. Read Full Story

Badal reviews status of heritage and cultural memorials
Chandigarh, Feb 6 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the progress of the martyrs' memorials being built in the state besides the Harpal Tiwana Academy of Performing Arts Patiala, Ishmeet Music Academy Ludhiana and Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at Raikot Bassian village in Ludhiana district. Read Full Story

Badal reviews status of heritage and cultural memorials
Chandigarh, Feb 6: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the progress of the martyrs' memorials being built in the state besides the Harpal Tiwana Academy of Performing Arts Patiala, Ishmeet Music Academy Ludhiana and Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at Raikot Bassian village in Ludhiana district. Read Full Story

Fans pray for Yuvraj's health at Deras in Punjab
Fatehgarh Sahib, Feb 5 : As the news of cricket icon Yuvraj Singh being diagnosed with cancer spread, fans and supporters started gathering at Deras of Sant Ajit Singh Hansaliwale and Baba Ram Singh Ganduan Wale in the district. Read Full Story

Coach of Shalimar Express derails, no one hurt
Jalandhar, Feb 5 : A major rail tragedy was averted early this morning when one coach of the 14645 Jammu bound Shalimar Express train derailed near Kala Bakra railway station, about 18 km from here on Jalandhar-Pathankot railway track. Read Full Story

One killed as school bus collides with mini-truck
Barnala (Punjab), Feb 4 : A head-on collision between a school bus and a mini-truck in this Punjab town Saturday left one person dead and 16 others, including 12 students, injured, police said. Read Full Story

Sant Seechewal gets honorary degree of Pbi University
Patiala, Feb 4 : Punjab Governor and Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, Shivraj Patil today conferred honoris causa degrees upon eminent environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, noted educationist J M Waghmare and celebrated painter and sculptor Sidharth. Read Full Story

BSF recovers 23 kg heroin from Punjab border
Chandigarh, Feb 4 : In a major haul, the Border Security Force (BSF) Saturday recovered 23 kg of heroin from two different places along the India-Pakistan international border, BSF officials said. Read Full Story

Election Commission is winner in Punjab polls
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Feb 4 : Political parties in Punjab may have to wait for the outcome, but the assembly polls have already produced one sure winner - the Election Commission (EC). Read Full Story

Chandigarh leading with 15 points in Mittal Trophy
Chandigarh, Feb 3 : At the end of fourth round of the Punjab Inter-District Cricket Tournament for F C Mittal Trophy, Chandigarh were leading with 15 points followed by Amritsar 14 points and Patiala 12 points, Mohali 7, Ludhiana and Jalandhar (-02). Read Full Story

Man booked for kidney sale advertisement
Chandigarh, Feb 3: Punjab Police have booked a man who had offered to sell his kidney through a newspaper advertisement last year. Read Full Story

Two double murders leave Ludhiana shocked
Ludhiana, Feb 3 : Two double murders, all within a span of 36 hours, have left residents of this industrial and commercial hub of Punjab shocked. Read Full Story

Scuffle breaks out during re-polling in Amritsar
Amritsar, Feb 2 : A Scuffle broke over allegations of illegitimate ballots during re-polling in Amritsar East assembly constituency in Punjab on Thursday. Read Full Story

Immigration agents' offices sealed in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Feb 2 : Offices of 20 agencies who were dealing in the multi-million rupee business of sending people to other countries by procuring work permits were sealed here Thursday for operating without licence, police said. Read Full Story

Poll panel disbands Punjab flying squads
Chandigarh, Feb 2: The Election Commission has decided to disband surveillance teams and flying squads set up to monitor the Jan 30 assembly elections in Punjab, an official said here Thursday. Read Full Story

Punjab police officer's body found at farmhouse
Ludhiana, Feb 2 : The body of a Punjab police officer was found at a farmhouse near here Thursday morning. Read Full Story

Punjab polls turnout 78.67 percent, re-poll in one booth
Chandigarh, Jan 31: The final vote count in the election to 117 assembly seats in Punjab Monday has come to 78.67 percent -- the highest-ever in the electoral history of the state, Election Commission (EC) officials announced Tuesday evening. Read Full Story

Punjab State Golf from Feb 17
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : The Trident Group 12th Punjab State Golf Championship gets underway at the prestigious Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Golf Club, Kapurthala on February 17. Read Full Story

Heavy voting in Punjab: Who will pay a heavy price?
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Jan 31 : Having set a new record with 76.63 percent voting in Punjab's election to 117 assembly seats, voters have left the main parties and leaders in a state of anxiety till the results finally come out March 6. Read Full Story

It's fight between parties, not brothers: Badal
Muktsar, Jan 30 : Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal, who is pitted against his brother Gurdas Badal in Lambi assembly constituency, today said it was not a fight between brothers but a fight between parties. Read Full Story

Congress and BJP workers clash in Amritsar
Amritsar/Jallandhar, Jan 30 : Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers clashed at a polling booth during the assembly polls in the state here today. Read Full Story

Prakash Singh Badal confident of victory
Lambi, Jan 30 : Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal chief, Prakash Singh Badal has anticipated his party's victory in the state assembly elections. Read Full Story

Scuffle breaks out over illegitimate votes in Ludhiana
Ludhiana/Patiala, Jan 30 : A scuffle broke out between Bharatiya Janata Party and People's Party of Punjab (PPP) activists over vote buying accusations on Monday. Read Full Story

BJP optimistic of winning with huge majority in Punjab
Amritsar, Jan 30 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Navjot Singh Siddhu said he is positive that his party will reach victory target with huge margin in the ongoing assembly elections in Punjab. Read Full Story

Akali Dal confident of second term government in Punjab
Kapurthala/Ludhiana, Jan 30 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said on Monday that it was confident of winning a second consecutive term. Read Full Story

Record voting in Punjab, nearly 77 cast franchise
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Setting a record, nearly 77 percent of Punjab's 1.76 crore voters cast their ballots Monday to pick a new state assembly and Election Commission (EC) officials said the final polling percentage could go up. Read Full Story

Over 77 percent voting in Punjab, one killed in violence
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Over 77 percent of Punjab's 1.76 crore voters cast their ballots Monday to pick a new state assembly. Election Commission (EC) officials said the final polling percentage could go up to 80 percent, a new record in the state. Read Full Story

Stopping by the polling booth on his wedding day
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Dressed in full wedding finery, a groom in Punjab's Patiala town went the extra mile -- literally -- to exercise his franchise Monday. Read Full Story

65 per cent voting in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Around 65 percent of Punjab's 1.76 crore voters had cast their ballots by 5 p.m. Monday to pick a new state assembly, while thousands of people were still queued up outside polling booths, a poll official said. Read Full Story

Punjab records 75 percent polling
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : About 75 percent turnout was recorded in the polling in Punjab on Monday as the state witnessed a peaceful balloting to create a new Assembly. Read Full Story

Congress slams Akali Dal-BJP alliance in Punjab, says people ready for change
Ludhiana/Patiala, Jan 30 : Slamming the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Punjab, Congress has said that the people are ready for change and want to get rid of the ruling alliance. Read Full Story

Candidates contesting assembly polls in Punjab cast their votes
Amritsar/Jalandhar, Jan 30 : Candidates contesting the assembly polls in Punjab cast their votes on Monday, and urged the voters to exercise their franchise to strengthen democracy. Read Full Story

BSP accuses Akali Dal of tampering with voting machines in Punjab
Mansa, Jan 30 : Members from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Punjab's Mansa District have accused Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate and the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Mansa of tampering with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). Read Full Story

Congress will register sweeping win in Punjab, says Raninder Singh
Patiala, Jan.30 : Raninder Singh, the son of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, who is fighting elections in the state from the Samana Assembly Constituency, has said that he expects the opposition Congress party to register a sweeping win in over 70 of the 117 seats that are up for grabs in the state. Read Full Story

Voting begins in Punjab amid tight security
Amritsar/Patiala, Jan.30 : Voting began in Punjab for 117 assembly constituencies amid tight security on Monday. Read Full Story

Nearly 40 percent vote in Punjab polls
Chandigarh, Jan 30: With a bright and sunny day at most places, thousands of people queued up outside polling booths across Punjab to elect a new assembly Monday with nearly 40 percent of 1.76 crore voters casting their votes till afternoon, Election Commission (EC) officials said here. Read Full Story

Polling booth No.106: Where the feuding Badals converge
By Jaideep Sarin, Badal (Punjab), Jan 30: Located in a government school in Badal village of Lambi assembly seat in Punjab, polling booth No.106 may be a nondescript place but it turned out to be the battleground for the politically feuding first family of Punjab politics -- the Badals. Read Full Story

Bright and sunny as polling picks up in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 30: Thousands of people queued up outside polling booths across Punjab to elect a new assembly Monday with over 15 percent of 1.76 crore voters casting their votes by 10.30 a.m., Election Commission (EC) officials said here. Read Full Story

11 EVMs replaced in Punjab after tampering complaint
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Election authorities in Punjab Monday replaced 11 electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Mansa district after complaints that an unidentified person had tried to tamper with them. Read Full Story

Polling under way in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Casting of votes started across 19,841 polling stations in Punjab's 117 assembly seats at 8 a.m. Monday, Election Commission (EC) officials said here. Read Full Story

Polling begins in Punjab for assembly elections
Chandigarh, Jan 30 : Polling for the single-phase assembly elections in Punjab began this morning amid elaborate security arrangements. Read Full Story

Punjab Congress cries foul over Sant Samaj Ad
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) took strong exception to the advertisement issued in various Punjabi newspapers today by the Shiromani Akali Dal, on behalf of Sant Samaj and Damdami Taksal, invoking people to vote in the name of religion. Read Full Story

Punjab Congress cries foul over Sant Samaj Ad
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee took strong exception to the advertisement issued in various Punjabi newspapers today by the Shiromani Akali Dal, on behalf of Sant Samaj and Damdami Taksal, invoking people to vote in the name of religion. Read Full Story

Punjab Polls: Amarinder urges people to elect clean Govt
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : A day before assembly elections in Punjab, State Congress President Amarinder Singh today appealed to the voters to vote carefully and cautiously to ensure that the state got a good and clean government. Read Full Story

Punjab Polls: Amarinder urges people to elect clean Govt
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : A day before assembly elections in Punjab, State Congress President Amarinder Singh today appealed to the voters to vote carefully and cautiously to ensure that the state got a good and clean government. Read Full Story

Punjab Polls: Sukhbir senses victory on poll eve
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : On the eve of assembly elections in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that countdown had began for the "historic event of decimation of Congress party from Punjab". Read Full Story

Punjab goes to polls on Monday
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : The fate of 1078 candidates vying for the 117 assembly seats would be decided on Monday as Punjab goes to a single phase state poll where the present chief minister Prakash Singh Badal of the ruling Shiromoni Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) combine is challenged by another former chief minister Amarinder Singh of opposition Congress. Read Full Story

Polling begins in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 30: Voting started across 19,841 polling stations in Punjab's 117 assembly seats at 8 a.m. Monday, Election Commission (EC) officials said here. Read Full Story

1.76 crore Punjab residents to vote Monday
Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Over 1.76 crore voters are eligible for casting their vote during the one-day election to 117 assembly seats in Punjab Monday (Jan 30), Election Commission (EC) officials said here Sunday Read Full Story

Punjab, Uttarakhand set to elect new assemblies
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Punjab and Uttarakhand will vote Monday to elect new assemblies with the Congress hoping to oust the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine in the country's grain bowl and the BJP in the hill state Read Full Story

A tale of drinks and drugs as Punjab votes
By Jaideep Sarin Chandigarh, Jan 29 : The hawk eyes of the Election Commission's surveillance teams nothwithstanding, the flow of liquor and drugs seems to be on ahead of Monday's ballot to pick a 117-seat Punjab assembly Read Full Story

A millionaire on scooter vs a royal on a Merc!
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Jan 29 : He may be a multi-millionaire but that doesn't stop Surjit Singh Kohli from riding around on a scooter through the congested bylanes of Punjab's Patiala town to campaign. In contrast, his opponent moves in a helicopter or a ML-class Mercedes SUV followed by a cavalcade of cars. Read Full Story

All eyes on Lambi as Punjab heads for assembly polls
Chandigarh, Jan 28 : The importance of Punjab's Lambi assembly seat could be gauged from the fact that Saturday, the last day of campaigning for assembly elections in Punjab, saw both the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine and the Congress signing off from the constituency for Monday's assembly elections. Read Full Story

Akalis, Congress claim victory as campaigning ends in Punjab
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Jan 28 : As campaigning officially ended Saturday evening for Monday's (Jan 30) election to Punjab's 117 assembly seats, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance and main opposition Congress made confident claims to victory. Read Full Story

Prominent candidates in Punjab assembly polls
Chandigarh, Jan 28 : The following are the main candidates from various political parties in the fray for the Jan 30 elections to 117 assembly seats in Punjab: Read Full Story

Akali government blamed for lack of NRI voters
Chandigarh, Jan 27 : The NRI cell of Punjab's opposition Congress Friday blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for the lack of numbers of NRIs wanting to cast their vote in the Jan 30 assembly elections. Read Full Story

Punjab poll lingo: 'Pappu PM' and 'qattal-e-aam' (Punjab Newsletter)
By Jaideep Sarin Chandigarh, Jan 27 : One leader refers to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a "Pappu PM" while another talks of doing a "qattal-e-aam" (massacre) of party rebels. Punjab may be going without posters and flags to keep poll expenses in check but colourful language is in full flow. Read Full Story

Punjab CM Badal pays tribute to martyrs on 63rd Republic Day
Firozpur (Punajb)/Jammu (J and K), Jan.26 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal paid tribute to freedom fighters at their memorial here on Thursday on the occasion of India's 63rd Republic Day. Read Full Story

Cross border bonhomie marks India's 63rd Republic Day in Amritsar
Amritsar, Jan.26 : Strengthening camaraderie between India and Pakistan, personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers exchanged best wishes and sweets on the occasion of India's 63rd Republic Day on Thursday. Read Full Story

Congress committed to strong Lokpal, says Rahul Gandhi
Tarn Taran (Punjab), Jan 25 : Congress General Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed his party's commitment towards bringing in a string and effective Lokpal Bill, and said that his political outfit was dedicated to ameliorate the common man, the poor and farmers. Read Full Story

Congress candidate booked in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 26: The authorities in Punjab Thursday registered a case against the Congress candidate from the Jalandhar central assembly seat on charges of distributing free liquor among voters. Read Full Story

Election Commission providing ballot papers in Braille
Chandigarh, Jan 24 : Visually challenged people will get an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote as the Election Commission in Punjab has decided to provide them with ballot papers in Braille. Read Full Story

'Clouds' galore over Punjab's electoral skies
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Jan 26 : The recent cold wave may have partially abated from Punjab, but political clouds continue to loom over the state. The state's ruling first family Badal (which literally means cloud) and its extended clan are out in full force to contest next week's assembly polls. Read Full Story

Advani, Rahul, Rajnath, Hema descend upon Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 25: With just five days to go for the Jan 30 Punjab assembly polls, a number of senior national leaders descended across the state Wednesday to address rallies in support of their party candidates. Read Full Story

Sikh group seeks apology from Jay Leno for Golden Temple remark
Amritsar, Jan 25 : Amid growing protest from the Sikh community against US chat show host Jay Leno for his remarks on the holiest of Sikh shrines - the Golden Temple, a Sikh group here has sought an apology from Leno and asked the US administration not to defend him. Read Full Story

Fauja Singh's coach, family fume at 'political misuse'
Chandigarh, Jan 25: Punjab's new party with a difference, People's Party of Punjab (PPP), has landed itself in trouble with the coach and family of 100-year-old marathoner Fauja Singh Wednesday seeking compensation of Rs.100,000 from it for his "political misuse" in the run-up to the Jan 30 assembly polls. Read Full Story

Rahul for Amarinder as Punjab chief minister
Tarn Taran/Ferozepur (Punjab), Jan 25 : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said Amarinder Singh will be the chief minister of Punjab if the Congress is voted to power in the Jan 30 elections to the 117-seat assembly in the state. Read Full Story

Akali Dal-BJP government has pushed Punjab back: Sonia
Chandigarh, Jan 24: Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday blamed the policies of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine in Punjab for the state lagging behind in several areas. Read Full Story

BJP proposes to confiscate assets of corrupt politicians
Jalandhar, Jan 24 : Promising to set up the office of an "empowered Lokayukta" in Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said properties and wealth of corrupt leaders would be confiscated and declared government property if the party was voted to power. Read Full Story

Punjab's turn as Team Anna campaigns in poll states
New Delhi, Jan 24: From Tuesday, Team Anna members will be in Punjab as part of their visit to poll-bound states where they plan to highlight the need for a strong Lokpal bill - and not speak for or against any party. Read Full Story

Criminals galore among nominees for assembly polls
New Delhi, Jan 23 : At least 15 percent of the candidates in the Punjab assembly polls and 19 percent of those in Uttarakhand have criminal cases pending against them, an analysis by non-political groups said Monday. Read Full Story

Rs.29 crore in unaccounted cash seized in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 23 : Unaccounted cash amounting to nearly Rs.29 crore has been recovered by various agencies in behalf of the Election Commission (EC) in the past few days in the run-up to the Jan 30 elections to the Punjab assembly. Read Full Story

Punjab Police official beats woman over theft, probe ordered
Chandigarh, Jan 23 : Taking suo motu notice of video footage showing a Punjab Police official beating up a woman accused of theft, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission Monday issued notice to police and the Mansa district administration. Read Full Story

Day temperatures rise in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, Jan 23 : Day temperatures rose across Punjab and Haryana Monday after many days as most areas in both states had a bright and sunny day. Read Full Story

'Pride of Punjab Fauja Singh wows fans during Amritsar city's first marathon
By Ravinder Singh Robin, Amritsar, Jan.23 : Centenarian Fauja Singh, who is widely regarded as the "Pride of Punjab" because of his age-defying marathon stints, wowed school children and senior citizens here on Sunday be taking part in Amritsar City's first ever `Run for the City' and `Citizen Walk'. Read Full Story

Police brutality caught on camera in Punjab
Chandigarh, Jan 23 : A cop has been caught on camera thrashing a woman at a police station in Bareta in east Punjab for allegedly selling spurious liquor, in another incident of police brutality in the north Indian state. Read Full Story

Akali Dal promises laptops, data cards to students
Ludhiana, Jan 22 : While making promises to all sections of the society, Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal Sunday said that all Class 11 and 12 students would be given laptops with Internet data-cards if the party was voted back to power in the Jan 30 elections. Read Full Story

EC bans 'peo-puttar' words in Punjab poll campaign
Chandigarh, Jan 22 : First it was 'kaka' and now it is 'peo-puttar' (father-son). Read Full Story

Dhumal attacks Congress over corruption issue in poll-bound Punjab
Amritsar, Jan 22 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Prem Kumar Dhumal attacked Congress over corruption issue during campaigning tour in poll-bound northern Punjab state. Read Full Story

IT education to be made compulsory, says Sukhbir Singh Badal
Ludhiana, Jan 22 : Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, today said that IT based education would be made compulsory in the state with the motive to make rural youth more employable. Read Full Story

Congress brought terrorism to Punjab, says Jaitley
Amritsar, Jan 22 : Flaring up the political heat in poll-bound Punjab, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley has slammed the Congress party by saying that the party brought only terrorism to Punjab. Read Full Story

Capt Amarinder Singh promises special amenities to NRIs, if elected
Chandigarh, Jan 22 : President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Captain Amarinder Singh, has promised all amenities to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), if elected to power in Punjab. Read Full Story

Congress ropes in NRIs for election campaign in Punjab
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Congress Party today, roped in Non Resident Indians (NRI) from different countries to campaign in the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab. Read Full Story

Manmohan Singh blames SAD-BJP alliance for Punjab's deteriorating economy
Amritsar, Jan 21 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh stepped up attack on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Punjab, blaming it for the state's deteriorating economic condition. Read Full Story

Punjab lost top spot in India: PM
Amritsar, Jan 21 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh started his election campaign trail in Punjab on Saturday and said under the rule of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the state has lost its top spot in India. Read Full Story

Punjab Polls: SYFI extends support to Congress
Samana/Patiala, Jan 21 : Secular Youth Federation of India (SYFI) today extended its support to the Congress for the January 30 Assembly elections in Punjab. Read Full Story