Chris Gayle defends asking reporter out in live broadcast as joke

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle says he was joking when he asked an Australian reporter out during a live TV broadcast and said he was sorry if she was offended by the widely condemned remarks. Gayle had just led the Melbourne Renegades to victory in a nationally televised Twenty20 match in Hobart on 4 January when he was approached for an interview by Channel 10 reporter Melanie McLaughlin. Jan 5, 2016

Saudi Arabia UN envoy urges Iran to mend ties

Saudi Arabia said on 4 January it would restore ties with Iran when it stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries and pledged that Riyadh would continue to work very hard to support bids for peace in Syria and Yemen despite the spat. Jan 5, 2016