Six years ago, a Mumbai college student stumped the most powerful man in the world stumped with her question. Today, after Obama departed office, Afsheen Irani looks back at that moment with a smile and says it will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Some of the memorable inaugural ball gowns through the years.

Barack Obama will still be in the Oval Office till the morning of January 20, but gosh, we are already beginning to miss him.

The end of newspaper reporting will produce a landscape so barren that it will be terrifying, says Aakar Patel.

The 29-year-old choreographer, who is camping in Washington for the past few days preparing for the performance, is super excited to have grabbed this once in a lifetime chance.

Though the incoming First Lady of the US is a former model who has retained all the glamour of the ramp, there is a curious radio silence on the subject of who's offering their sartorial services for her time at the White House, notes Kanika Datta.

'If your paper writes something you don't agree with, will you criticise it?' Nitin Gadkari asks Aditi Phadnis when quizzed about demonetisation.

Get your weekly dose on the goings on in the fashion and entertainment industry.

He was a great Commander-in-Chief, but he was also a great dad and a great husband and these photos will surely give you some #familygoals.

A risk-taker, she'll always be remembered for her unforgettable style and daring fashion choices as a First Lady.

Repeated surveys have shown that India is among the world's top vacation-deprived countries. Kanika Datta reflects on our work-life balance - the lack thereof that is.

As we prepare to cruise into the New Year, Rediff.com gives you a glance back, through photos, into all the sporting moments that made the last 12 months memorable.

The Japanese prime minister's visit to the memorial in Hawaii, the spot that was bombed 75 years ago, shows that it is possible for two powerful former enemies to transcend recriminatory impulses, observes Rajaram Panda.

'I swayed my arms in the air with strangers when George Michael sang Careless Whispers' 'I was in heaven.'

'The year in pictures' treks across the globe, looking back on the moments that shaped 2016. From the United States presidential race, to demonetisation in India to the refugee crisis, the news has kept pouring in. Here are our top 50 moments from the world.

Several of the injured are said to be critical and rescue workers are searching for more casualties in the scorched area.

Thousands observed a moment of silence and watched jets streak across the clear blue sky at a ceremony at Pearl Harbor marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that plunged the United States into World War II and left more than 2,400 service people dead.

The plane that crashed in Colombia virtually wiping out an entire Brazilian football team was running out of fuel, had no electrical power, and was preparing for an emergency landing, according to the pilot's final words. The disaster on Monday night killed 71 people and sent shock waves round the global football world. Only six on board the LAMIA Bolivia charter flight survived, including three of the Chapecoense football squad en route to the biggest game in their history: the Copa Sudamericana final.

Perhaps one aspect of the way modern media particularly print and news television works need some soul-searching: Their tendency to "frame" news stories as a conflict between two personalities, says Ajit Balakrishnan.

'Whatever Kamala is today, it is because of my sister.' 'My sister inculcated South Indian culture and values in her,' Dr Sarala Gopalan, US Senator-electKamala Harris' maternal aunt, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in Chennai.

Fascinating insights about PeeCee from her mom, Dr Madhu Chopra.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been left out of the Argentina squad for the crucial World Cup qualifier clash against Brazil to be held at the Mineirao Stadium later this evening. The 28-year-old has been struggling with form in his recent international appearances including missing a penalty for Argentina during their 0-1 defeat at the hands of Paraguay in their last outing.

Trump was often synonymous with controversy, with divisive pronouncements on Muslims, immigrants, economy and terrorism.

Priyanka Chopra's mother Madhu opens up about her famous daughter.

'When I was younger, 15 years or 20 years seemed like a really long time. But, as you journey though life, you don't realise where the years disappear...'

'Donald Trump' took Times Square by storm on Tuesday along with a group of scantily-dressed women as part of a project by spoof photographer Alison Jackson.

More than the traditional Dravidian political rivalry that's now on display, it's boiling down to father-son one-upmanship within the DMK, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Nawaz Sharif knows a coup in 2016-2017 will not only complete Pakistan's isolation, but even a whiff of instability will frighten the world into imagining another Islamic State-zone, and this in a fully nuclearised subcontinent,' says Shekhar Gupta.

Could Ambassador B S Prakash's nightmare turn real?

The fight was for the more than 10 million millennials, the undecided and the independents and Clinton clearly came out on top, feels Aziz Haniffa.

'Make no mistake, depriving water deliberately to a nation of 190 million people is a repugnant idea.' 'The world community won't forgive us.'

Umrika, which won the audience award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, finally releases in India.

'If you invest your entire capital in talks, you cannot abruptly change gear and decide on war.'

The protestors converged across the street from the world body's headquarters to condemn atrocities and human rights violations by Pakistan just as Sharif was addressing the General Debate of the General Assembly.

'Her greatest strength is not her acting or her dancing abilities, but that she has an incredible number of fans.'

Modi has debunked the uncontested wisdom of foreign and strategic policy remaining unchanged and running on a broad national consensus. This is clearly seen in his unhesitating embrace of the US and the clear hardening shift in India's stance on Pakistan, says Shekhar Gupta.

Portugal's impressive midfielder Renato Sanches is finally ready for his Bayern Munich debut although the 19-year-old Euro 2016 winner still faces a tough challenge to claim a regular place in the team. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that Sanches could make his debut away to Schalke 04 on Friday (1830 GMT) if Arturo Vidal is still worn out after his long trip from South America, where he played two World Cup qualifiers for Chile in five days.

'We have been getting e-mails for assignments and events. People from random islands, like Seychelles, called us to perform for India's independence day. It's crazy to see how the internet affects the world. We feel blessed that so many people recognise us. We have even got mails from low-budget feature film makers in the South -- like they want us to be the heroines!' Twins Poonam and Priyanka Shah give us a jhalak into their lives!

Lionel Messi's triumphant Argentina comeback has been tempered by a hint he may not be fit to play in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Venezuela. Messi, who had gone back on his decision to quit the team following their Copa America final defeat in June, scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Uruguay on Thursday that sent Argentina to the top of the South American group. However, the Argentina captain said he had a groin pain and had to think about his fitness at the start of a busy season for his national side and his club Barcelona.

The central government has drafted a law to restrict wombs for hire, and there is much to be said on all sides.