Did You Know ... The Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) is set to appoint a new secretary in the coming months? IFA President Joe Healy confirmed the role would be filled by a current member of the association's staff at its recent AGM.
Did You Know ... Primary school children have been taking on projects to study the effects of fizzy drinks? As part of the RDS Science Fair, pupils from Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel investigated how much sugar they consume in fizzy drinks, and an Educate Together class from Midleton created a study to see how fizzy drinks affect teeth. “What we found will make me more careful about what I drink. I will only have one Coke from now on, for special occasions,” said Aoibhe Geraghty, 11, from Ballinacurra, Cork.
Did You Know ... retail sales in the UK fell during the Christmas period? The British Office for National Statistics recorded month-on-month retail sales dipping 1.9% in December, and said the main contribution to the decline came from non-food stores.
Did You Know ... a new 3D sweetener has been unveiled at the ISM show in Cologne? The 'meringue kiss' sweetener was developed by Lampados International and is designed to be healthier than typical sugars as well vegan-friendly.
Did You Know ... Samsung has confirmed that the batteries in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones were faultily designed? The official investigation followed many reports that the phones were exploding or catching fire, and confirmed that defects in the phone's manufacture were to blame.
Did You Know ... I Can't Believe It's Not Butter is changing its name? The brand, which is owned by Unilever, is renaming as I Can't Believe It's So Good ... For Everything! Speaking of the spread, Unilever brand manager, Pedro Costa, said, "Our brand evolution to take on a new name helps to drive home the fact that this product is unbelievably versatile and a healthier option, making it a great value offering"