Cecilia Jamasmie , Senior Editor

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (TSX:POT) is allegedly in talks with the Israeli government concerning a potential merger/ takeover of Israel Chemicals Ltd. in a deal that may be worth over $13.5 billion.

The European Commission said Wednesday it is delaying the deadline to emit a verdict on Glencore International PLC's $70 billion merger proposal with Xstrata (LON:XTA) after Glencore (LON:GLENA) made concessions to reduce EU concerns about too much potential concentration of interests in northern Europe.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting lost Tuesday an appeal to retain its share in the touted Rhodes Ridge iron ore project in Australia’s Pilbara, forecast to be worth billions once developed.

The Australian Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said Tuesday the Rio Tinto's redundancy package for its Blair Athol coal mine discriminates against union members.

Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (TSX:COS) increased its 2012 cash flow guidance by 20% after reporting third-quarter net income climbed to $338-million as lower operating expenditures offset a decline in revenues.

TransCanada Corp. (TSX, NYSE:TRP), Canada's largest pipeline company, said Tuesday third-quarter profit dropped 4% compared to the same period last year, missing estimates.

Despite setbacks in the global economy, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow at 4.8% in this year, broadly unchanged from the 4.9% growth rate registered in 2011 and largely on track, according to the World Bank’s latest report.

South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the world’s largest platinum producer, has offered to reinstate 12,000 miners fired in early October for illegally striking and pay them a $230) “hardship allowance” if they return to work by Tuesday morning.

Malaysian state-run oil company Petronas has extended the deadline for its takeover bid for Canadian gas producer Progress Energy Resources Corp.(TSX:PRQ) in hopes it will be able to overcome Ottawa's objections to the $5.2 billion deal.

TransCanada Corp. (TSX, NYSE:TRP) and Phoenix Energy Holdings Ltd. have entered into a 50-50 partnership to build a $3-billion pipeline in Northern Alberta, one of the centres of Canada’s oil sands industry.