LONDON (ShareCast) - A new Greek proposal for economic policy overhauls and budget cuts appears to have moved closer to creditors' demands on some of the most divisive issues, but there was no immediate word on whether it would be enough to unlock a new bailout package. - The Wall Street Journal
George Osborne will today announce ambitious planning reforms to speed up housebuilding in Britain, side-lining obstructive councils and setting up a potential clash with the Tory shires. The chancellor will put planning reform at the centre of a new "national productivity plan"- effectively the second half of this week's Budget - as he attempts to remove obstacles to growth. - Financial Times

Thousands of British tourists are being evacuated from Tunisia after the Foreign Office warned that another terrorist attack was highly likely. Tour operators were organising extra flights back to Britain last night after the government told holidaymakers that they were not safe and advised against non-essential travel. - The Times

One of the world's largest technology companies has pledged to pump $1bn into the UK's technology sector in the next five years, which includes a $150m pot for start-ups, such as those clustered around Silicon Roundabout in east London. Cisco did not say how it would spend the money, apart from the fund for UK start-ups developing machine-to-machine technology for the financial, retail and healthcare sectors, but it did commit to make more acquisitions. - The Times

A midnight deadline for a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran passed on Thursday, with US legislation kicking in that will strengthen the position of hawks in Washington who are opposed to an agreement. Hours earlier US secretary of state John Kerry warned that the final stage of nuclear talks was in deadlock. - Financial Times

Airbus is hoping to achieve a milestone in aviation on Friday by making the first cross-Channel flight in an aircraft powered solely by electricity. The pan-European aerospace and defence company's E-Fan 2.0 prototype will use batteries instead of conventional fuel to power its twin motors on the 42-mile flight. - The Daily Telegraph

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