March 20, 2012
Apple to pay dividend and buy back shares
Apple has said it will use its cash to start paying a dividend to shareholders and to buy back some of its shares. The technology giant said it would pay a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share from July. It will buy back up to $10bn (£6.3bn) of its…
March 20, 2012
Australia passes controversial mining tax into law
The Australian Senate has pushed through into law a 30% tax on iron ore and coal mining companies. The tax will raise A$10.6bn ($11.2bn, £7bn) over three years from major companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xtrata. Strong demand for raw…
March 20, 2012
Deutsche to challenge EU over NYSE Euronext ruling
Deutsche Boerse is to legally challenge the European Commission's decision to block its planned merger with stock exchange rival NYSE Euronext. The two companies called off their merger last month after Brussels objected to the deal on competition…
March 20, 2012
Mets owners settle Bernard Madoff lawsuit
The owners of the New York Mets baseball team have agreed to pay $162m (£102m) to settle a lawsuit which accused them of being "wilfully blind" to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi fraud. The civil case against Mets' owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz was…
March 20, 2012
Egypt in mourning for Coptic Pope Shenouda’s funeral
Big crowds are expected in the Egyptian capital for the funeral of Coptic Pope Shenouda III, who died on Saturday. A service will be held at St Mark's cathedral, followed by burial at St Bishoy monastery in the Nile Delta. Shenouda, 88, was the…
March 20, 2012
Russia joins Red Cross call for daily truce in Syria
Russia has joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in calling for a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. In a statement, the foreign ministry called on the government "and all armed groups who oppose it" to agree to…
March 20, 2012
Greece’s FM Resigns to Lead Socialist Party Before Election
Greece's Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos has resigned, one day after being elected to lead the Socialist party PASOK in the run-up to elections. Venizelos announced his resignation Monday after meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias.…
March 20, 2012
Romney Positioned for Win in Illinois Primary
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is hoping for a big win in his party's primary Tuesday in the central state of Illinois, as he seeks to enlarge his lead over his top rival, Rick Santorum. Opinion polls show Romney is 15 points…
March 20, 2012
North Korea Invites UN Nuclear Monitors to Return
The United Nations nuclear watchdog said Monday it has received an invitation from North Korea to visit, three years after its inspectors were expelled from the communist country. A spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy…
March 20, 2012
Ashcroft’s BCB breached rules of Stock Exchange
BCB Holdings broke London Stock Exchange rules by failing to declare all the directorships held by Andrew Ashcroft, son of the Conservative party donor Lord Ashcroft, The Independent has discovered. Mr Ashcroft replaced his father on the board of…