Press play to hearken to this text Voiced by synthetic intelligence. PARIS — Vladimir Putin is a “radically rational” chief who’s betting that Western nations will develop bored with backing Ukraine and agree a negotiated finish to the battle that shall be favorable to Russia, former French President François Hollande …

Has Michel Houellebecq, France’s favorite literary bad boy, become an apologist for far-right terrorism? In an interview with a niche periodical late last year, Houellebecq predicted that “native” French people would soon be taking up arms and committing “acts of resistance” against Muslims in areas “under Islamic control.” “There will …