Folks are buying durians from a livestream

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Hello readers,

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve bought from a livestream? Mine would have to be durian.

Livestreaming has become so big that we can now buy not just clothes but also fresh produce and so much more from livestream shops – a livestreamer has even managed to sell a rocket launch for around $5.6 million. What could that mean once this trend hits Southeast Asia? Scroll down for some juicy reads.

Your quick bytes for today:

🚗 Robotaxis are a real thing in Shanghai now. Commuters can order self-driving taxis through Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing.

📚 The title of India’s second most valued startup now belongs to edtech Byju, which is now valued at US$10.5 billion.

📱 A minute of silence for the 59 Chinese apps that have recently been banned in India – yes, including TikTok.

💰 Tencent’s almost US$600 billion market cap would make every tech company green with envy. So we took a look into the different units of the Chinese giant and why it just can’t seem to stop growing.

🎥 Cinemas took a big blow as seven big-ticket Bollywood films chose to premiere on streaming service Disney+ Hotstar instead. This development comes after similar deals were made by rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime.

✨ Good news if you’re a creator based in Thailand or Australia and have 10,000 followers or more than 250 return viewers: Facebook has expanded its fan subscription program, which you can now sign up for.

When livestreaming goes mainstream

“Can I call you back later? I’m buying durians from a livestream.” And no, I’m not referring to a Twitch gaming stream.

In China, livestreaming means online shopping done through a live show that is put on by sellers showcasing their products and giving their sales pitches to an online audience.

How about some cell-based milk for breakfast?