Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Feb. 28

SINGAPORE -- Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) jointly launched a research institute on Wednesday by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

It is Alibaba's first joint research institute outside China, with a pool of 50 researchers from both organizations. (Singapore-Alibaba Group-Research Institute)

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KABUL -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani outlined a new peace map on Wednesday during an international meeting, which is aimed at finding negotiated settlement to the country's lingering crisis.

The Afghan president said the new measures for the peace and reconciliation efforts include a ceasefire, recognition of Taliban outfit as a political party, making efforts for a transitional trust building process as well as holding free and fair elections. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Reconciliation)

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CANBERRA -- The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced major crackdowns on work expenses and Bitcoin investors.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry examining tax issues, the Australian government said that Australians claimed 22 billion Australian dollars (17.1 billion U.S. dollars) in work-related expenses in the financial year ending in June 2017. (Australia- Taxation)

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TOKYO -- Japan's industrial production dropped in January from a month earlier owing in part to a slump in output by automakers, the government said in a report on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, industrial production dropped 6.6 percent on month in December, following a revised 2.9 percent increase logged in December. (Japan-Industrial Production) Enditem