Aid workers are kidnapped in Syria – Israel discovers a troubling tunnel – And a local election in France may signal a major change in that country’s political landscape.

Gunmen abducted seven Red Cross and Red Crescent workers in northwest Syria.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has had no contact with the kidnappers, and is calling for the immediate release of the aid workers, believed to be local and international medical specialists.  It is not yet clear who carried out the kidnapping, but Syrian state TV blamed it on so-called “armed terrorists”, which is the term is uses to describe rebels.

Israel’s military is showing off video it took of a captured tunnel running almost 2 kilometers from Gaza into Israel.  The Israelis are calling the well-constructed passage a “terror tunnel” and claim it could have been used by militants to carry out attacks on Israelis.  No proof of that was offered.  Gaza’s Hamas rulers says the Israelis are exaggerating, and “the minds which manage to dig the tunnel can dig dozens more.”

The United Nations is calling on Guinea to release the results of last month’s elections, which were hoped to transition the country to a democracy after a 2008 coup.  The UN says the delay is “troubling”.  But international observers said the plebiscite was flawed and marred with irregularities; the opposition is rejecting the preliminary results. 

France plans to boost its troops presence in the Central African Republic by the end of the year, as part of forthcoming UN resolution to help prevent the country from spiraling out of control.  The CAR has been mired in chaos since predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March.  The interim President Michel Djotodia has been unable to control the rebel factions, which are accused of atrocities against civilians.

A candidate of France's far-right National Front won a run-off vote in a local election Sunday, sparking concerns that the once-shunned extremist party is gaining strength and could become a force to be reckoned with by capitalizing on economic gloom and fears of rising crime.  The anti-immigrant and Euro-skeptic party's candidate Laurent Lopez got 53.9 percent of the vote in the second round of the by-election in the southeastern town of Brignoles.  That town’s mayor belongs to the Communist party, and the election of a far-rightist from a pariah party could be a significant barometer of the national mood.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny says his will be the first eurozone country to exit its bailout in December of this year. Financial bailout packages have also been given to Cyprus, Greece, and Portugal, which haven’t done as well as Ireland.  The Taoiseach warned that fragile economic times are still ahead, however. 

One body has been found in a collapsed apartment block in Medellin, Colombia.  The 24 story building was under construction, and was evacuated on Friday when cracked were discovered in the concrete.  On Saturday night, it collapsed with a team of construction workers and at least one resident inside.  At least eleven people are missing.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was discharged from hospital five days after successful surgery last week to remove blood from the surface of her brain.  Well-wishers cheered as her motorcade carried her back to the presidential residence.  But doctors caution she should not resume her public duties, and has been advised to take 30 days of strict rest and avoid air travel.  She’s been sidelined at a crucial time; midterm elections are less than two weeks away, and voters are upset over double-digit inflation.