Reach legal challenge 
In the first lawsuit to challenge Reach, attorneys representing four chemical companies are going to court to seek clarification over certain aspects of the regulation. The law firm claims that the regulation related to allowable levels of monomer in polymers is ambiguous, and that a strict interpretation could see polymer companies having to cease trading in Europe. 

Carbon course 
The University of East Anglia, UK, is to launch the world's first  carbon management MBA . The one year, full time course offered by the UEA's business school seeks to produce managers able to lead businesses towards low carbon market opportunities. 

Russian oil deals 
Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell and state-owned Russian oil firm Rosneft have signed a deal for joint projects in oil and gas exploration, production, refining and marketing, both inside and outside Russia. The deal comes despite Shell, and BP, recently succumbing to pressure to sell their stakes in Russian oil and gas projects signed in the 1990s. 

Pfizer fights generics 
An Irish court has upheld Pfizer's patent for its cholesterol-lowering blockbuster Lipitor. The ruling prevents India's Ranbaxy from launching its generic version in Ireland until 2011, when the Lipitor patent expires. Pfizer and Ranbaxy have battled over the Lipitor patent in various countries, including the US. Despite the ruling, Lipitor sales continue to fall due to competition from generics of rival drugs. 

Stopping toxic shipments 
The EU has introduced new rules intended to prevent European toxic waste from being dumped in developing countries. National authorities will now be obliged to carry out spot checks on ships, and will be empowered to open suspect containers. The new laws also make illegal the export of non-hazardous waste to countries outside the EU and European Free Trade Area.