Facebook has announced forming a social VR team. The team is led by two executives, Daniel James and Mike Booth, both from the video games industry. The team is expected to compete with several startups trying to bring video conferencing and social networking into VR.

Baltimore private equity firm Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP) announced on Tuesday that they closed its third fund at $303 million, overriding its target of $200 million. With such amount of equity capital commitments, Monument Group Inc. is to serve again as exclusive placement agent.

Indian businessman Ajay Piramal has entered into venture capital (VC) space by establishing a new VC funding entity 'Montane Ventures.' The new VC fund focuses on early-stage funding requirements. Piramal has infused $50 million into Montane Ventures will mobiles $150 million additionally from external resources.

Russia's leading oil producer, Rosneft has proposed investing another $500 million in Venezuela's state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA, to increase their stake from the original 16.7%. The proposition has come at a time when the country has declared an economic emergency after oil prices dropped to an alarming $24 a barrel.

A gamut of factors are affecting the South African economy as dwindling inflows of money, weaker currency, rising unemployment rate and severe drought conditions are at their worst in 25 years. South Africa's GDP growth rate is projected to slowdown further in 2016.

If you always forget your car keys, don't worry because Volvo has an innovative way to solve your problem. By 2017, the car maker will unveil its commercially-available cars installed with the digital car key technology to access your car and drive it even without a physical key with the help of a smartphone.

Mobile startup Jana has a new influx of cash and an old industry hand as a new adviser. It recently nabbed a $57 million funding from Verizon Ventures for expansion in developing countries.

The US Department of Justice has been favored with a court order in getting technical assistance from Apple for unlocking an iPhone. Apple CEO has vowed to challenge the court order citing iPhone security. Finally HECC has come forward to end the dead lock situation with invitation to Tim Cook for discussing a possible solution mentioning no set date.

Prices usually fall amid plenty of inventories. But 2016 appears as a booming year for Phoenix Real Estate due to increased demands from the buyers. Lack of new construction during the last seven years and soaring up house rents are the contributing factors for the rise in demand. Reduction of inventory in 2015 by 5.5% coupled with increased sells in recent days, accelerate the booming for Phoenix.

This summer HSBC will allow 15 million customers to use the biometric system where account owners can access their accounts online through their fingerprints or voice. This scheme would make hackers and identity thefts difficult to mimic the real owners.