Joe Biden has signed a pardon for his son - Hunter Biden - due to be sentenced this month on gun crime and tax convictions.

The US President previously said he wouldn't pardon him, but now says his son was selectively and unfairly prosecuted.

US correspondent Logan Church says this news comes as a shock to everyone - given how Biden was originally opposed to the pardon. 

"For all of Joe Biden's re-election campaign - and after he stepped aside in support of Kamala Harris - he vowed that he would not pardon his son at all. It appeared like a political strategy more than anything else."

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On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 29 November 2024, the Government inquiry revealing that 'human error' was behind the Manawanui sinking when crews failed to turn off autopilot - Defence Minister Judith Collins explains the findings.

Eden Park's Nick Saunter talks about the park announcing 12 concerts a year but with only six artists.

Plus the Sports Huddle debates whether or not New Zealand Rugby should finally loosen their eligibility laws.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The British Government intends to overhaul the country’s immigration system after new data shows arrivals had hit a record high.

New figures show net migration is at 900,000 in the year to June 2023, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer blames on the previous Conservative government — 22 percent higher than the original numbers.

He says they had pledged to get the numbers down multiple times and failed every time.

UK correspondent Kay Oliver told Heather du Plessis-Allan the big question remains how much of it is legitimate and genuine, but also how much of it is uncontrolled.

Meanwhile, ex-soldier Daniel Khalife has been found guilty of spying for Iran, and the world’s oldest man John Tinniswood, who was born the same year the Titanic sank, has died aged 112.

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China has been preparing for Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs.

The US President-elect is pledging to add another 10 percent on top of existing tariffs on Chinese exports, where he also slapped tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump has made more about curtailing the supply of drugs and reducing illegal immigration. 

But Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s hard to know what China can really do about that.

He says economists predict the tariffs will reduce exports by about 15 percent, knocking off about 0.5 percent of China’s GDP.

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A new 'confirmation of payee' service is being rolled out by the banks.

Now when making a bank transfer to someone new, when entering in the name and account number, users will now get a warning if the two don’t match.

The idea is to make it easier to spot being scammed.

GetVerified chief executive Duncan Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.

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All Sport Breakfast Wellington host Adam Cooper and NZB Kiwi head of communications Andrew Gourdie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Sports Huddle.

The Black Caps have work to do after England’s fightback at Hagley Oval, with the visitors buoyed by Harry Brook’s century.

Damian McKenzie has been given a spot in World Rugby’s best XV for 2024, but there are some questions over it.

And questions over whether to loosen eligibility rules for the All Blacks going on sabbaticals.

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The Government's plans to do away with high-earning workers rights to claim unjustified dismissal is copping flack from an employment lawyer.

Under the proposal, anyone making more than $180,000 a year will lose out on that current legal avenue if they lose their jobs.

Employment law expert Max Whitehead told Heather du Plessis-Allan this is an unfair winding back of employees' legal protections.

He asks who would want to be a senior manager right now — it's a tough world out there for the big timers in business.

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The Black Caps still have some work to do in Day 2 of their opening test against England at Hagley Oval.

The hosts were bowled out for 348 at the start of the day, but England continue to chase down their target, buoyed by a century for Harry Brook.

The high point for the Black Caps’ bowling efforts has been Nathan Smith, who bagged two wickets in the opening session.

Newstalk ZB Sport reader Andrew Alderson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.

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Some action's already been taken to try and prevent a repeat of the HMNZS Manawanui sinking.

The navy vessel went down nearly two months ago after hitting a reef during a survey of the Samoan coast.

The interim Court of Inquiry report's found it was caused by a series of human errors - with the crew failing to turn off the ship's auto-pilot when they were supposed too.

As they tried to slow it down, they instead accelerated faster into the reef.

Defence Minister Judith Collins told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s incomprehensible.

“Except that we also know that sometimes even with the best will in the world, people make mistakes, and then someone else makes a mistake, and it becomes, in this case, a lost ship and people’s lives being unnecessarily put at risk.”

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Eden Park has been granted consent to host double the number of concerts in a year.

The Auckland stadium will now be able to host 12 concerts a year from six different artists.

CEO Nick Sautner told Heather du Plessis-Allan promoters are delighted with the announcement.

But he says they're limited to six artists under the conditions of the consent.

“Over time we wanted to build a level of comfort with everyone, including public transport providers to know that we can get people to and from the venue, or indeed the local businesses to receive the economic benefit.”

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