LAS VEGAS, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Smart garden robotics brand LOPKIN showcased its L Series robotic lawn mowers at the National Hardware Show 2026 (NHS 2026), marking its continued expansion into the North American market. Designed for small to mid-sized residential lawns, the new series focuses on wire-free setup, intelligent navigation, and ease of use.

The debut attracted strong interest from industry professionals and channel partners across North America, as demand grows for smarter, low-maintenance lawn care solutions.

From Wired Installation to Wire-Free Operation

The LOPKIN L Series addresses the industry’s biggest pain point: complex installation. Unlike traditional mowers that require hours of burying boundary wires, the L Series utilizes a high-precision multi-source fusion navigation system. Combining RTK-GPS positioning with Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO), the mower autonomously maps the yard and creates virtual boundaries right out of the box.

Furthermore, LOPKIN introduces its exclusive HaLow Wi-Fi connectivity. This technology eliminates the need for complex app-based network pairing and ensures a stable, long-range signal that covers even the largest properties, maintaining a seamless connection where standard Wi-Fi often fails.

AI-Powered Perception for Safer, Smarter Mowing

The L Series is equipped with a vision-based perception system capable of recognizing over 300 common yard objects, including pets, children, and outdoor obstacles.

With real-time obstacle detection and adaptive path planning, the mower dynamically adjusts its route to enhance both safety and operational efficiency, particularly in complex and changing outdoor environments.

Engineered for the North American Landscape

To handle the diverse and often rugged terrain of the US market, the L Series is built with a high-torque motor and a floating cutting deck.

Precision Cutting: 24 cm (9.5 inches) cutting width combined with a 290 m²/h efficiency ensures quick coverage,and manages tough grass types like Kentucky Bluegrass and St. Augustine.

Terrain Mastery: Effortlessly handles slopes up to 22° (40% incline)

Intelligent Management: The “Lawn Steward” mode leverages a database of 100+grass species to automatically adjust cutting height and frequency throughout the growing season.

Expanding North America Presence and Global Partnerships

LOPKIN is actively accelerating its North America expansion strategy through local distributor networks and retail channels, aiming to scale its market presence in key regions.

Leveraging its in-house manufacturing and R&D capabilities, the company also offers flexible OEM/ODM solutions for global partners seeking customized smart lawn care products.

A company spokesperson commented: “We believe lawn care should be simple and accessible. By combining wire-free technology with intelligent decision-making, we aim to deliver a more effortless experience for homeowners.”

As technologies such as RTK positioning, AI perception, and data-driven automation continue to evolve, robotic lawn mowers are transitioning from standalone tools into integrated lawn management systems.

LOPKIN’s product approach reflects this broader shift toward wire-free operation and intelligent outdoor automation.

About LOPKIN

LOPKIN is a smart garden technology brand dedicated to integrating robotics, AI, and lawn science into a unified ecosystem. By providing reliable, autonomous solutions, LOPKIN aims to simplify home maintenance and empower users worldwide.

For more information, visit: https://lopkin.com

OTTAWA, ON, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Royal Canadian Mint has proudly launched the 2026 $20 Fine Silver Coin – Moon Mission as Artemis II marks the historic return of crewed missions to the Moon since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. This colourful 99.99% pure silver coin, whose design comes to life with blacklight technology, also celebrates Canada’s inaugural lunar mission, on which Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian to fly around the Moon.

Designed by Canadian artist Pandora Young, the coin’s reverse illustrates Canada’s role in the international NASA-led Artemis II mission through its depiction of a CSA astronaut in a full Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) spacesuit, backed by an enlarged engraving of the Moon. Selective colour brings the astronaut’s blue-trimmed, orange-coloured OCSS spacesuit to life, with a Royal Canadian Air Force badge displayed above a CSA patch in the centre of the chest panel.  The Canadian flag is also visible on the left shoulder. When viewed under black light, the Moon glows, while the iconic view of planet Earth from the Moon is reflected in the astronaut’s visor. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

As a mission specialist, Col. Hansen will spend 10 days aboard NASA’s Orion crew capsule with commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch.  By testing all the systems of the Orion spacecraft, for the first time with humans aboard, and doing a flyby of the Moon, their mission will set the stage for a new era of lunar surface exploration. 

Artemis II is Col. Hansen’s first flight into space. By virtue of his maiden voyage, Canada also becomes the only country other than the United States to have ever travelled in deep space.

Limited to a mintage of 7,500 coins worldwide, the 2026 $20 Fine Silver Coin – Moon Mission currently retails for $279.95. This new collectible may be ordered by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267‑1871 in Canada, 1-800-268‑6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, at participating Canada Post outlets, and through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors.

Images of this coin are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada’s prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations. 

For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.  Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, media are asked to contact: Royal Canadian Mint, Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, 613-884-6370, reeves@mint.ca

• Japan can now begin deploying quantum-safe encryption at scale following PQShield’s evaluation of ML-KEM, as standardised in NIST FIPS 203, for CRYPTREC
• The milestone unlocks adoption across Japan’s government procurement and technology supply chain, aligning the country with global mandates such as CNSA 2.0
• The CRYPTREC ML-KEM evaluation report highlights the importance of secure and efficient implementation, particularly in protecting against side-channel and physical attacks.

TOKYO, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PQShield, a global leader in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), today announced it has delivered the external ML-KEM evaluation for CRYPTREC, Japan’s cryptographic standardisation body. This milestone supports the inclusion of ML-KEM in the CRYPTREC Ciphers List – comparable to frameworks such as the U.S. CNSA 2.0 – removing a major barrier to PQC adoption and allowing organisations to begin deploying quantum-safe cryptography across government, critical infrastructure and the wider technology supply chain.

The inclusion of ML-KEM in the CRYPTREC Ciphers List marks the first clear and official signal that the Japanese government is accelerating its move towards quantum-safe security, ahead of a formal national roadmap expected by May 2027. As the Ciphers List defines the cryptographic standards required for government procurement and broadly adopted across industry, this development will directly shape the technologies used across Japan’s industrial and export ecosystem.

This evaluation forms part of Japan’s broader PQC migration strategy, with the National Cyber Command Office (NCO) targeting a full transition to quantum-safe cryptography by 2035. As Japan accelerates this transition, alignment with global standards ensures its industries can operate securely and competitively across international markets.

This also reflects broader global policy alignment, with governments increasingly moving from PQC standardisation to real-world deployment.

PQShield was commissioned to conduct the full-stack evaluation of ML-KEM, the quantum-safe encryption standard approved by NIST, providing analysis across both theoretical security and practical implementation. This work formed a key part of CRYPTREC’s assessment process and underpins its conclusion that ML-KEM is “robust and secure” against both classical and quantum attacks, with all parameter sets meeting or exceeding NIST security levels, and that it is “viable for general-purpose applications.”

The CRYPTREC report highlights that the primary challenge in PQC adoption is secure and efficient implementation, particularly in protecting against side-channel and physical attacks. PQShield’s evaluation reinforces that these challenges are solvable in practice, supporting the deployment of secure, hardened implementations at scale.

Through its UltraPQ-Suite, PQShield provides production-ready implementations of ML-KEM optimised for deployment across the full technology stack, including:

• Ultra fast solutions for high-performance networking and data centre infrastructure
• Ultra secure implementations hardened against advanced attacks for critical systems
• Ultra small deployments for embedded devices and constrained environments

PQShield’s involvement in CRYPTREC builds on its growing presence in Japan through its local entity, PQShield G.K., led by Shuichi Katsumata, Lead Cryptography Researcher, alongside participation in the Cyber Research Consortium (CRC) under a NEDO-funded programme and collaboration with AIST and leading industry partners. As a UK NCSC Assured Cyber Security Consultancy (ACSC) provider for PQC, the company supports governments and critical infrastructure operators with migration planning and implementation. Its team of cryptographers and engineers are co-authors of the initial NIST PQC standards and continue to shape global standardisation efforts across bodies including NIST, IETF and ETSI.

Dr Ali El Kaafarani, founder and CEO of PQShield, said: “Post-quantum cryptography is entering a new phase, where global standards, government investment and industry progress are beginning to align. With hyperscalers signalling that practical quantum computing is getting closer, the focus is shifting to coordinated, strategic implementation across the entire ecosystem – from OEMs and semiconductor providers to network security and critical national infrastructure. As governments set clear transition timelines, the next step is ensuring that requirements are aligned across borders so organisations can plan and execute with confidence. Our contribution to CRYPTREC builds on the world-class research already underway, while ensuring these algorithms can be securely deployed in real systems. We’re proud to support Japan’s transition and help turn this global alignment into operational quantum-safe security.”

Dr Shuichi Katsumata, Lead Cryptography Researcher at PQShield, said: “The ML-KEM evaluation reflects a comprehensive analysis of both theoretical security and real-world implementation. In addition to confirming strong security guarantees against classical and quantum attacks, our work examined practical considerations such as performance, parameter selection, and resistance to side-channel and fault attacks. This is critical, as the security of post-quantum cryptography depends not only on the underlying mathematics, but on its implementation in real systems. Our findings show that ML-KEM can be deployed securely and efficiently, providing a strong technical foundation to support Japan’s roadmap towards quantum-safe cryptography.”

About PQShield
PQShield is a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) company creating the global standards and core technologies to power the future security layer of the world’s leading organizations. Its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies’ legacy systems to protect sensitive data now and for years to come. It is the only cybersecurity company that can deliver high-quality secure implementations of quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications, and in the cloud, and is also an authority on PQC side channel attack resistance, having built a dedicated PQC SCA test lab with industry partners. PQShield is also a leading contributor to the post-quantum cryptography standardization projects throughout the world.

Headquartered in the UK, with teams across Europe, the United States and Japan, PQShield is backed by leading venture capital and corporate investors. Its extensive research paper catalog is available here. The company also hosts Shielded, a cybersecurity podcast exploring real-world stories of post-quantum cryptography adoption from international companies and institutions.

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pqshield_logo.jpg

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — daydream, a leading AI-native agency for organic search, today announced a $15 million Series A funding round led by WndrCo, along with First Round Capital and Basis Set Ventures. The round brings daydream’s total funding to $21 million and will be used to accelerate hiring, product development, and go-to-market expansion.

“We are thrilled to have such backing and endorsement from top-tier venture firms,” said Thenuka Karunaratne, CEO and Co-Founder of daydream. “We’re bringing world-class SEO expertise, paired with agents, to every high-growth company and enabling maximum velocity in one of the most complex marketing channels to master.”

Most tools today tell you how a company shows up in SEO and AI search. daydream goes beyond observability to drive outcomes through strategy and execution, an AI-native agency combining SEO agents with top experts to deliver full-service search support.

“The SEO market is massive, and AI is changing it faster than most companies can keep up. We backed daydream because Thenuka and Shravan understand this space better than anyone we’ve met, and they’ve built the product to prove it. The teams that figure out organic search in the age of AI will have an unfair advantage, and daydream is the company helping them get there,” said ChenLi Wang, General Partner at WndrCo.

daydream’s approach combines three things: the daydream method, a framework covering seven levers of organic growth from keyword strategy to AI visibility; SEO agents that execute faster than traditional agencies and automate search execution at scale; and a dedicated Growth Lead assigned to every customer, an SEO expert responsible for strategy, quality, and outcomes.

“SEO requires deep expertise, fast execution, and the ability to adapt as search itself evolves,” said Shravan Rajinikanth, CTO and Co-Founder of daydream. “Most companies are still optimizing for a version of search that no longer exists. We’re building agents that can think, strategize, and execute everything a senior SEO practitioner can, and do it at the speed and scale that the age of generative AI demands.”

The AI-native agency is an emerging category in the venture-backed world. In its Request for Startups for Spring 2026, Y Combinator ranked AI-native agencies #3 among the startup categories it most wants to fund. daydream’s Series A funding is a bet that combining agents with human expertise is the most effective model for SEO and AI search at scale.

About daydream

daydream is a leading AI-native agency that delivers an unfair advantage in organic search by combining a proven methodology with SEO agents and dedicated experts through full-service support. Learn more at withdaydream.com

Contact
Kim Huong Tran
pr@withdaydream.com 

Marking a one-year milestone, BLUETTI pledges $1 from every Elite 100 V2 Bio-Based unit sold to fund Leave No Trace’s outdoor ethics education nationwide.

LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This Earth Month, clean energy leader BLUETTI renewed its strategic partnership with Leave No Trace, the international 501(c)(3) authority on outdoor ethics. Together, they are launching the Bio-Based Elite 100 V2 Giveback—a landmark initiative that converts product innovation into environmental stewardship by pledging $1 from every unit sold to fund outdoor education and nature preservation.

Powered by Nature, Given Back to Earth

To directly invest in the planet’s future, BLUETTI pledges a $1 donation to Leave No Trace for every Elite 100 V2 Bio-Based unit sold through September 30. This initiative is embodied by the unit itself—the industry’s first power station to embrace a bio-circular design. Crafted from recycled waste and agricultural byproducts, the Elite 100 V2 Bio-Based Portable Power Station reduces production carbon emissions by 25% (ISCC PLUS-certified). Combining this nature-inspired innovation with a tangible giveback, BLUETTI and Leave No Trace aim to empower a more responsible outdoor community, helping to preserve the very wilderness that inspires exploration.

“Our year-long journey with Leave No Trace has been truly fruitful. This year, the Bio-Based Initiative takes our shared sustainability mission to the next level. We’re thrilled to support Leave No Trace in empowering even more outdoor enthusiasts with power solutions that respect the wild.”
— James Ray, Spokesperson, BLUETTI 

“Partnering with BLUETTI helps to bridge the gap between essential outdoor technology and environmental responsibility. By renewing our collaboration for 2026 and launching the Bio-Based Initiative, we are empowering the outdoor community to enjoy the outdoors while actively contributing to its preservation through education and sustainable innovation.”
— Dana Watts, Executive Director, Leave No Trace

2025 Shared Success for Sustainability

This strategic renewal builds on a year of shared milestones in fostering global responsible outdoor practices:

• Supported 174 educational programs across 26 U.S. states.
• Reached 354,000+ individuals with the Seven Principles and clean outdoor energy.
• Generated 189,000+ digital impressions through a community Nature Photography Challenge.
• Raised $20,600 during Giving Tuesday to expand environmental literacy nationwide.

2026 Vision: Empowering a Greener Path Forward

As Leave No Trace explores more diverse ways to deliver outdoor education, minimizing the environmental footprint of its field operations remains a top priority. The team now depends on the Elite 300 Solar Generator as its primary mobile power hub. Its TT-30 RV-ready port enables high-demand appliances—such as air conditioners and microwaves—to run without the noise or exhaust of traditional fuel sources, helping preserve the natural soundscape.

For extended road trips, the system is paired with the Charger 2, a dual car and solar charger that delivers up to 13× faster recharging on the move. Featured in BLUETTI’s Spring Campaign, this pairing is positioned as a more efficient, emission-free power solution for RV travel, camping, and the wider outdoor community.

Growing Together for a Greener Planet

As this collaboration enters its second year, BLUETTI and Leave No Trace are shifting their focus toward deeper integration. Together, they aim to empower a more responsible outdoor community, striving to preserve the purity of the natural world for generations to come.

About BLUETTI

Established in 2013, BLUETTI has evolved into a pioneer in the clean energy sector. Driven by robust in-house R&D and sustainable innovation, the brand empowers millions across 120+ countries to stay safe and prepared. Its portfolio of portable power stations and home battery backup solutions ensures reliable power for emergency preparedness, RV travel, and  off-grid lifestyles.

About Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing Leave No Trace programs, education, training and outreach in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the globe. Utilizing the power of science, education for all and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors. Learn more at: www.LNT.org.

Media Contact

Ellen Lee
ellenlee@bluetti.com

New report explores how innovation, regulation, and IP strategy are shaping the future of autonomous mobility.

NEW YORK, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global consulting firm J.S. Held today announced the release of its 2026 Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Industry Report. Developed by Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolving AV landscape through the lens of innovation, investment, and intellectual property (IP).

“Despite extended deployment timelines, the economic opportunity in autonomous vehicles remains transformative,” said Dan Principe, Director and Chair of the Industry Analyst Review Committee at Ocean Tomo. “What we’re seeing now is a shift from pure R&D to commercialization, where IP strategy is no longer optional—it’s existential.”

The report reveals that while early forecasts predicted widespread Level 3+ AV deployment by the mid-2020s, the market is now expected to center around L2+ vehicles by 2035. Yet, the global AV market is still projected to grow from $24 billion in 2021 to $62 billion in 2026, with passenger vehicles alone forecasted to generate $300–400 billion in revenue by 2035.

Tatiana Feka, Industry Analyst at Ocean Tomo, emphasized the strategic importance of IP in this maturing sector: “The industry is moving past its initial life cycle stage. Between 2022–2024, we saw the first decrease in total innovation filings, signifying market maturation and a shift from pure R&D to commercialization strategies. This makes IP positioning even more critical.”

The report also highlights the growing complexity of the legal landscape, with cross-industry IP conflicts expected to rise as AV systems increasingly integrate telecom, cloud, AI, and mobility technologies. Companies are adopting more proactive legal strategies, including pre-emptive patent filings and trade secret protections, to safeguard their innovations. “As both established players and new entrants deepen their AV technology investments, trade secret enforcement has become an essential component of IP strategy,” adds Senior Managing Director John A. Hudson.

Key findings from the report include:

• The U.S. leads global AV patent filings with 135,828, followed closely by China with 132,844.
• The robotaxi rideshare market is projected to grow at a 90% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.
• Waymo now delivers over 450,000 driverless rides per week, with continued expansion into new U.S. cities.
• NVIDIA’s DRIVETHOR chip delivers 20x the processing power of its predecessor, accelerating real-time AV data processing.

The 2026 AV Industry Report is now available for download here: Download Autonomous Vehicles Report – Ocean T.omo.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kristi Stathis | J.S. Held | kristi.stathis@jsheld.com | +1 786 833 4864

About J.S. Held

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.

More than 1,500 professionals serve organizations across six continents, including 84% of the Global 200 Law Firms, 75% of the Forbes Top 20 Insurance Companies (90% of the NAIC top 50 Property & Casualty Insurers), and 71% of the Fortune 100 Companies.

Verdantix, in their Green Quadrant: Enterprise Risk Management Consulting Services (2025) report, benchmarks 15 of the most prominent enterprise risk management (ERM) advisors, identifying global consulting firm J.S. Held among the leading companies based on capabilities and momentum

J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB or Ocean Tomo Investments, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.