Since the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel's crushing response in the Gaza Strip, more than 1,500 anti-Semitic acts have been recorded in France – three times as many as in the whole of 2022. For many French Jews, this outpouring of hatred has awakened a feeling of vulnerability.

This week on French Connections we take a look at the complex web of "autoroutes", or highways, in France. Over 70 percent of French people stayed in France for their vacations in 2023, and that means most of them hit the road. From its inception in 1927 to controversial toll increases to bumper-to-bumper traffic, we tell you how these highways illustrate so much about French society.

In this edition of arts24, we discover the French version of the global smash hit musical seen by more than 65 million people and based on Abba's catchy tunes, which is on stage in Paris. Also on the programme, we visit the new queer, unapologetic and inclusive Paris exhibition of Austrian artists Jakob Lena Knebl & Ashley Hans Scheirl. Plus we investigate the growing cultural phenomenon of kidulting.

This week on Arts24, Marjorie Hache speaks to up and coming French pop artist Blowsom who has independently released two EPs and garnered millions of streams. We also catch up with American rock band Rival Sons who have released two albums this year and take a look at Queen Of Pop Madonna's opening Paris show and country royalty Dolly Parton's new album Rockstar.

In France, following the recent terror attack that saw a French high school teacher murdered, Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin is asking for the implementation of a so-called "backdoor" to access the phone messages of people suspected of posing a threat to national security. For encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, this means creating an exception to end-to-end encryption, as our Science and Tech editor explains.

The NBA's next season is set to kick off with the "Michael Jordan" of French basketball, Victor Wembanyama. All eyes are on the 2.24-metre-tall mega talent who joined the San Antonio Spurs in June. He follows in the footsteps of Tony Parker, who was inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame in August. France in Focus takes a look at the players who have made it into the American league, past and present.

With tragic news making headlines, we could all use a break. So this week on French Connections, we're taking a look at the French lunch break. We find out about the surprising origins, the lasting tradition and the myriad of choices for the French midday meal.

South Africa dump hosts France out in a captivating clash. New Zealand show their class, as the Irish quarter-final curse strikes again. England squeeze past Fiji and Argentina end Welsh hopes in Marseille. Leo McGuinn is joined in the studio by Ian Borthwick to discuss all the weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter-final action.

Renowned for her stuffy, old world attitude, the wife of former French president Jacques Chirac gets the comedic treatment in "Bernadette", starring Catherine Deneuve as the eponymous first lady. FRANCE 24 film critic Lisa Nesselson describes it as "a joyful comedy anchored in French political history" including behind-the-scenes political dealings and a style makeover from Karl Lagerfeld.

The Transat Jacques Vabre is a major international sailing competition that will see some 60 teams of two leave the town of Le Havre in mainland France and head across the Atlantic to Fort-de-France in the French Caribbean. Kicking off on October 29, it's set to be an extraordinary spectacle and a chance for some of the world's best sailors to try out new cutting-edge boats and equipment before embarking on the Vendée Globe round-the-world race next year.

A well-known French comedian who is also a journalist has spoken to FRANCE 24 about how he combines the two. David Castello-Lopes is embarking on a tour of France and Switzerland with his stand-up show "Authentique", or Authentic. He challenges what is authentic and what is not, both as part of his stand-up show and with video clips to illustrate his points. His roots as a journalist are evident as he performs. He spoke to us in Perspective.

Niger has hailed France's withdrawal as a "step towards sovereignty." But experts argue that the move has broad implications for the country, the Sahel region and beyond.