THE NEWS WRAP: Microsoft confirms Office for iPad, expands cloud services

New Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has announced the release of its Office suite designed for the iPad and a touch-first version for Windows, along with a new cloud-based Enterprise Mobility Suite, during a press conference in San Francisco.

Users with an Office 365 subscription will be able to add an iPad as one of their chosen devices, and then download versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint from the iTunes app store.

The company also announced enhancements to Windows Intune, including support for Samsung Knox, along with the release of Microsoft Azure Active Directory Premium.

“Microsoft is focused on delivering the cloud for everyone, on every device. It’s a unique approach that centres on people – enabling the devices you love, work with the services you love, and in a way that works for IT and developers,” Nadella says.

CFMEU faces ban

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union could face deregistration, according to a secret report to the Victorian government obtained by Fairfax.

News of the possible ban comes as the Australian Federal Police assigns a commander and two federal officers as part of the investigations unit of the federal government’s royal commission into unions.

Fairfax also reports Victoria Police has also recently investigated allegations of bribery in the construction industry, which have been referred to its fraud and extortion squad for assessment.

ATO amnesty for tax evaders ahead of crackdown

ATO Commissioner Chris Jordan is calling on Australians with assets in offshore tax havens to declare their assets as part of an amnesty, ahead of a global crackdown on tax evasion.

“They will not be investigated or referred for criminal investigation by the ATO on the basis of their disclosures,” Jordan says.

“The message is now is the time for individuals with offshore income to get their affairs in order and avoid steep penalties and the risk of criminal prosecution.”

Overnight

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down to 16264.2. The Aussie dollar is up to US92.61 cents.