Joseph LaFave

About the author

Joseph LaFave writes about finance, maritime issues, healthcare, the National Guard, and conflicts around the world. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as an EMT in Florida and as an ESH engineer for Lockheed Martin supporting several DoD and NASA satellites. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

US employers created 312,000 jobs in December, nearly double the prediction

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued its December 2018 jobs report Friday. It indicated an astronomically high job growth rate, with  312,000 new payrolls added. The number of new jobs is nearly double the prediction of 176,000. The jobs created, which exclude farming jobs, were mainly in “health care, food services and drinking […]

CDC says flu cases are on the rise, but what are the costs?

Although the flu is not something most healthy Americans go around worrying about, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that this year’s flu season could be a brutal one. According to a press release issued just days before Christmas of last year, the flu season was officially declared on December 15, […]

What will 2019 mean for the Mueller investigation?

As many Americans nurse their post-New Year’s Eve hangovers, several others wonder what 2019 will hold for the Mueller investigation. Will the special prosecutor finally find concrete evidence that President Trump worked with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election? Or will he come up empty-handed and prove Trump was innocent? “I think the biggest […]

Iraq’s Air Force will begin bombing ISIS in Syria

As the United States begins its draw-down of combat forces in Syria, Iraq’s air force has been given permission by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to commence combat operations against the remaining ISIS terrorists in the Levant. With this agreement, Iraqi air commanders will be able to plan and execute their own missions without seeking Syrian […]

Colombian authorities claim to have thwarted an assassination plot after arresting three Venezuelans with weapons

Law enforcement officials in Colombia claim they recently uncovered a possible plot to assassinate President Ivan Duque. According to Reuters, Colombia’s Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo went public with the information via a video message on Saturday. In the video, Trujillo described the plot as “credible” and stated three Venezuelan nationals, who are now suspects, […]

How did this tech company make $3 billion this year with a free video game?

Tech companies like the FAANG group (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google) are constantly making headlines. Whether it be new product releases, congressional hearings, or security concerns, most investors know to watch for these companies. However, outside of that circle, there are several other tech companies making huge waves — and profits — in the […]

Turkey puts pressure on US to extend Iranian oil waiver as operations in Syria ramp up

With operations in Syria ramping up, Turkey’s Trade Minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, told reporters on Thursday that she expected the United States to extend the current waiver which allows the country to buy Iran’s crude oil. In November, the US placed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, but granted several exemptions to the Gulf state’s biggest customers, allowing […]

Are the current leaders in the DRC using Ebola as a political weapon?

Just days after authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suspended elections in certain areas — allegedly due to fears of the Ebola Virus — protesters took to the street to express outrage that their voting day has been postponed until March. On Thursday, the protesters began targeting a medical center for suspected Ebola […]

No surprise here: Amazon and other online retailers reign supreme this holiday season

E-commerce superpower Amazon is celebrating its best holiday sales period ever thanks to a record-breaking number of items bought across the globe. The company released its holiday sales information on Wednesday and claimed “all-new Echo Dot, L.O.L. Surprise! Glam Glitter Series Doll, fashion items from Carhartt, and Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones,” along with other items, […]