News Digest: President Buhari commends African parliamentary Union; Ethiopian opposition leader returns from exile

1. President Buhari commends African parliamentary Union

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the African Parliamentary Union (APU) for promoting democratic culture and human rights in Africa.

The president made the commendation at the opening of the 41st Conference of Speakers of the National Parliaments of the African Parliamentary Union on Thursday in Abuja.

2. Ethiopian opposition leader returns from exile

Prominent Ethiopian opposition politician Birtukan Mideksa has returned home from exile in the United States.

She was one of several opposition leaders imprisoned for life, accused of instigating protests following the controversial 2005 election.

Around 200 demonstrators were shot dead by the Ethiopian police at what was the start of a sustained crackdown on the opposition.

Ms Birtukan, a former judge, was released in 2010.

Correspondents say her return from exile is the latest sign of how the political landscape has been radically reformed since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in April.

At her family home in Addis Ababa, Ms Birtukan said she had long feared she would never see her family again.

3. 'Remarkable' decline in fertility rates

There has been a remarkable, global decline in the number of children women are having, say researchers.

Their report found fertility rate falls meant nearly half of countries were now facing a "baby bust" - meaning there are insufficient children to maintain their population size.

The researchers said the findings were a "huge surprise".

And there would be profound consequences for societies with "more grandparents than grandchildren".

4. Marine combat veteran kills 12 in crowded California bar

A 28-year-old US Marine Corps combat veteran opened fire in a crowded country music bar in California, killing 12 people including a police officer who rushed in and exchanged shots with the gunman, authorities said Thursday.

Terrified patrons -- many of whom were college students -- scrambled for the exits after the gunman started shooting people with a handgun in the Borderline Bar and Grill at around 11:20 pm on Wednesday.

5.Leicester return to King Power Stadium for emotional farewell to Vichai

Leicester return to action at the King Power Stadium on Saturday with football a mere afterthought as fans prepare to pay heartfelt tribute to the man who turned their dreams into astonishing reality.

Manager Claude Puel's pre-match preparations for the game against Burnley were disrupted after he and a number of players, including Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel, travelled to Thailand to pay respects to the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.