News stops: Hollande criticised by former PM François Fillon

A LOOK over some of the headlines from today in France.

François Hollande 'lacks courage', claims France's opposition
François Hollande "lacks courage" in his foreign policy and is the antithesis of the risk-taking Nicolas Sarkozy, France's opposition Right has claimed, as the country's Socialist president reaches his 100th day in power.

Scores of ETA prisoners join hunger strike
A mass hunger strike by jailed members of armed Basque separatist group ETA in Spain and France escalated with more than 100 prisoners taking part on Monday, Spanish authorities said.

In Europe, defences rise against Asian mosquito peril
Behind air-tight doors in a lab in a southern French city, scientists in protective coveralls wage war against a fingernail-sized danger.

Total must end Kurdish deal or sell oil stake, Iraqi official says
French energy giant Total must cease dealings with Iraqi Kurdistan or lose its share in a major oilfield, a top Iraqi energy official said.