 Calls for Shell PLC LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL and other oil and gas companies to pay a higher windfall tax grew louder after its dividend and share buyback announcements took shareholder distributions to US26bn far the year so far. The FTSE 100-listed oil colossus posted underlying third-quarter profits of US9.45mln, its second-highest ever, and announced a US4bn share buyback, a US0.25 interim dividend and plans for a bigger dividend in the fourth quarter. 