Ikea

The Swedish furniture giant found itself embroiled in the scandal over tainted meat - with the row even stretching as far as its ever-crowded Hong Kong stores. The chain's meatballs, a popular after-school snack for Hong Kong children, were withdrawn from sale around the world after traces of horsemeat were found. Ikea Hong Kong denied any of the tainted batch made it to the city, but withdrew sales due to public concerns.

Ranulph Fiennes

The veteran British adventurer was forced to pull out of the first winter crossing of the Antarctic after suffering frostbite damage to his left hand. Fiennes has been forced to wait for evacuation from his team's camp, while his five fellow explorers continue to trek across some of the most treacherous terrain in the world.

Bob Woodward

The Washington Post reporter, of Watergate fame, has had insider access to the White House for generations. But he has drawn the ire of US President Barack Obama's team, with one member telling Woodward by e-mail that he would "regret" his report that the White House had "moved the goalposts", jeapordising its efforts to secure a deal before the budget sequester kicked in.