SINGAPORE, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of Singapore’s 60th anniversary of independence, the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) presents two commemorative experiences chronicling Singapore’s transformation from settlement to global city and its major milestones over the past 700 years.

Visitors can start their experience with Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time at the Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda, the first permanent gallery to reopen amid the museum’s ongoing revamp. Intended as an introduction to Singapore’s history, this immersive multimedia experience takes visitors back in time to witness formative moments in the nation’s history. Through an RFID-enabled wristband, visitors can “adopt” one of nine Magical Companions inspired by Singapore’s native fauna to guide them through the showcase and activate hidden layers of content on Singapore’s history.

Visitors are first greeted with a suspended LED globe that anchors a two-minute light show, which maps the evolution of the maritime routes that have connected Singapore to the world throughout its history. As visitors move through the gallery and descend the spiral ramp, they “time-travel” in reverse chronology through pivotal chapters of Singapore’s history via visual wall projections that come alive with animated scenes and rich soundscapes. The journey culminates at the base of the Glass Rotunda, which features a digital waterfall curtain that reveals historical moments of Singapore’s past, and an immersive media show featuring various myths associated with the origins of Singapore.

To continue their exploration of Singapore’s history, visitors can visit the exhibition Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City – which runs till 9 October 2026 – to discover how the sea and river have shaped Singapore’s evolution from a bustling 14th-century port to a global powerhouse today.

Featuring over 350 artefacts from Singapore’s National Collection, the exhibition is spread over five thematic sections, each representing different aspects of Singapore’s evolution and brought to life through experiential storytelling. Visitors can discover the island’s deep historical roots and its early prominence through maps, early trading activities along the Singapore River which once served as the lifeblood of the early settlement, and take on the Sampan Challenge to ferry passengers across the river. Through first-person accounts, photographs, personal artefacts, and even a digital Singlish quiz, the final section concludes with a tribute to Singaporeans and homegrown organisations that have made an impact globally.

In each section, visitors are prompted to reflect on the evolution of Singapore’s identity by engaging with questions through an RFID-wristband. Their responses reveal one of four avatars that reflect their own values and aspirations, allowing them to contribute to the collective vision of Singapore’s tomorrow.

Together, these two experiences form a continuous journey for visitors to explore, experience, and reflect on Singapore’s history across centuries. For more information, please visit the National Museum’s website, Facebook or Instagram.

New agreements will bring Lexile reading measures to hundreds of thousands of Chinese students learning English

DURHAM, N.C. and SHANGHAI, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MetaMetrics^®, the developer of the Lexile^® Framework for Reading, and Blue Heron Global, a leading provider of corporate business development services for EdTech and publishing organizations, today announced a strategic partnership to expand access to Lexile reading measures to learners in China. Through this agreement, Blue Heron will serve as an authorized reseller of Lexile® measures in the country, enabling large-scale adoption of Lexile assessment and literacy solutions.

As part of this partnership, Blue Heron has secured contracts with several influential education organizations, including Sunshine Learning Centers, Aliu Tutoring, Jian Jin Education, and Chinese National Publications Import & Export Group (CNPIEC) NPIEC, a governmental publishing authority, to deliver Lexile measures to more than 200,000 students learning English. These agreements represent one of the most significant expansions to date of the Lexile Framework within the Chinese market.

“We are thrilled to expand our reach in China through our partnership with Blue Heron Global,” said Chris Minnich, Chief Executive Officer of MetaMetrics. “The Lexile Framework has long supported learners around the world, and this collaboration deepens our commitment to ensuring that every student has access to accurate, meaningful measures of reading growth. Together with Blue Heron and their partners, we are excited to help Chinese students connect their English reading skills to future academic and career opportunities.”

To support this market launch, Andy Shafran, Founder and CEO of Blue Heron Global Consulting, will speak at multiple high-profile education conferences in China in December, where he will highlight the impact of Lexile reading measures and introduce the Heron Literacy solution designed specifically for the local market. Blue Heron Global is an official sponsor of both conferences, which will include speaking sessions, promotional exhibition space, and on-site activation booths to showcase the power of the Lexile Framework for Reading.

Key December Events Featuring Blue Heron and Lexile Solutions:

• Event 1: EnglishUp Conference for English Educators (Shanghai, China)
  A premier event for China’s English-education sector, featuring leading researchers, corporate innovators, government advisors, and K–12 and adult-education experts.
• Event 2: 2025 中国教育 EE 年会 (Hefei: 2025 China Education EE — Education & Explore Conference)
  A high-profile conference in China’s edtech market, including hundreds of founders of major education startups, executives from publicly listed education companies, and senior industry leaders.

At both conferences, Shafran will speak about the Lexile Framework and the Heron Literacy solution, demonstrating how the Lexile scale can bring comparability, transparency, and actionable insights to China’s rapidly growing English-language learning market.

In addition to these speaking engagements, Blue Heron will host events supporting their customers during the week of December 14, further introducing Lexile-powered solutions to publishers, educators, and institutional partners across China.

“MetaMetrics and Lexile are terrific products and brands globally. This partnership marks a new chapter for reaching English organizations in China through dedicated technology and solutions,” said Andy Shafran, Founder and CEO of Blue Heron Global Consulting. “Our goal is to accelerate access to high-quality, research-based reading measurement for Chinese learners, while supporting content developers and English-language educators with tools that promote growth, motivation, and long-term success. With strong partners and MetaMetrics’ trusted framework, we believe we are building a powerful foundation for learners across the country.”

About Blue Heron Global Consulting

Blue Heron Global enables EdTech and publishing organizations to scale internationally through strategic partnerships, market-entry planning, and corporate business development. Headquartered in the United States and active across Asia, Blue Heron supports clients in navigating complex markets and launching high-impact educational solutions. Learn more at BlueHeronGlobal.com.

About MetaMetrics^®

MetaMetrics is an award-winning edtech company that provides the global standard for measuring literacy and numeracy. The Lexile® and Quantile® Frameworks connect students’ reading and math abilities to the complexity of content on the same scale, making learning more personalized. Millions of learners receive our measures, turning individual moments of assessment into meaningful connections that empower learning. For over 40 years, our research-based, consistent, and actionable measures have been trusted by educators, publishers, assessment providers, and policymakers worldwide. Leveraging the most advanced language models and learning theory, MetaMetrics continues to innovate solutions for a wide range of applications, including early reading, career-connected learning, and literacy frameworks for non-English languages. Lexile and Quantile measures increase engagement with learning across the education ecosystem, inspiring everyone to build life skills for a brighter tomorrow. Learn more at MetaMetrics.com.

PARIS, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sirha Bake & Snack confirms its status as the leading international hub for bakery, pastry and snacking. This 26^th edition, from Sunday 18^th to Wednesday 21^st January, positions itself as the strategic platform where commercial opportunities converge for all actors in a sector undergoing profound transformation and successfully exporting worldwide.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:  
https://www.multivu.com/sirha-bake-and-snack/9372551-en-international-hub-of-french-bakery-and-snacking

A VENUE WHERE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS ARE FORGED

With 17% international visitors representing 105 countries, the trade exhibition is the natural playground for artisans considering expansion, franchisors structuring their development, and manufacturers seeking new growth levers. The 450 exhibitors and brands — including 15% international — come to test their concepts, identify future partners and scan the trends that will shape their respective markets.

The trade exhibition structures its offer around three sectors:

+  Bakery: millers, yeast specialists, raw material suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, equipment…

+  Snacking: a booming segment (with over 2,000 sqm, representing 23% of the exhibition space) that meets new consumer expectations for high-quality, indulgent, and on-the-go experiences, while reflecting the rise of hybrid food concepts.

+  Sweet: manufacturers and installers of equipment, small appliances, raw materials and ingredients – including chocolates…

FRENCH BAKERY: A MODEL CONQUERING GLOBAL MARKETS

The success of the French Bakery internationally is now proven. Established French concepts are launching on every continent, attracting customers seeking authenticity, quality and that French culinary signature that has become a genuine commercial asset.

Sirha Bake & Snack enables French innovators to understand how to adapt their offers to the expectations of distant markets, while giving international buyers access to the best solutions on the market to build their deployment strategies.

A PLATFORM FOR TRANSFORMATION, INNOVATION AND TALENT

Beyond commercial meetings, the trade exhibition creates a space conducive to the exchange of expertise and to the transformation of the ecosystem.

The Forum and the Snacking Stage host debates and demonstrations, featuring renowned chefs and industry experts, and decode the whole market, while the Bake Contests Stage and the Sweet Stage spotlight tomorrow’s talents through four international competitions: the French Schools Cup (18^th and 19^th January), the Bakery World Cup (20^th and 21^st January), the European Selection of the Pastry World Cup (18^th and 19^th January) and the International French Pastry Trophy (20^th and 21^st January).

For the entire sector, Sirha Bake & Snack acts as a catalyst, transforming ideas into projects, meetings into partnerships, and trends into opportunities.      

Media contact:

Chloé Vernay and Alexandra Dunant, sirha-bakesnack@monet-rp.com

Bakery World Cup, candidate. Photo credit : Thierry Caron