BREAKING: World Bank makes BIG prediction about 50 million Africans and African women as Black woman makes monumental history in the United States

Here is our top story today: But first,?Ketanji Brown Jackson?was sworn into office on Thursday as the first Black woman to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She was sworn in immediately following the end of the court’s term and Justice?Stephen Breyer’s?retirement. Breyer retired from the court at noon on Thursday after more than 25 years.

Apart from becoming the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, Jackson has also become its first former public defender. Congratulations Madam!

Here is our top story today: A new World Bank report released just moments ago said that?the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)?has the potential to bring significant economic and social gains for Africa, leading to higher incomes, lower poverty, and faster economic growth. The report was done in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat.

If fully implemented to harmonize investment and competition rules,?the trade pact could boost regional incomes by as much as 9 percent—to $571 billion. It could create almost 18 million more jobs, many of them higher-paying and better-quality jobs, with women workers seeing the biggest gains. By 2035, the resulting jobs and income growth could help up to 50 million people exit extreme poverty, the global bank said, asserting that women may see the biggest gains.

Note: The United States military is more engaged in Africa than it has been for some time, General Andrew M. Rohling, Commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, told reporters on Tuesday, pushing back against claims that the United States was retreating from Africa.

Simon Ateba, Publisher and White House Correspondent for Today News Africa in Washington.