LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Israel opened its first embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday, boosting relations with the small European Union nation even as ties sour with some longtime allies over its policy on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar travelled to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, for the occasion that asserts a shift in Slovenia's policy toward Israel under the current right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
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A group of protesters hold a banner outside the Slovenian foreign ministry during a visit of Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, and his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer sign bilateral agreements in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, attends a news conference after signing bilateral agreements with his Slovenian counterpart, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, is welcomed by his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Saar called the embassy opening a “historic day” after a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer. He described Israel as "the only democracy in the Middle East and almost the only real and true partner of Europe,” the STA news agency reported.
“Moreover, we are defending Europe, Europe’s security, directly and indirectly,” Saar said, adding that “Israel is the fortress on the front line for Western civilization.”
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the new embassy building to protest the visit, demanding the embassy's closure.
Kajzer said “we want today’s opening to mark the beginning of a period of greater dialogue, stronger cooperation and, above all, more tangible results for the benefit of our people,” according to the foreign ministry post on X.
The trip to Slovenia comes a day after the United Kingdom banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and France and Canada announced they would take similar action.
The move is seen as a symbolic expression of displeasure with Israel by some of its closest allies, and it offers a new sign of the Israeli government’s growing isolation as a result of the Gaza war.
Israel responded angrily and said it would close the British consulate in Jerusalem.
The previous, Slovenian center-left government of former Prime Minister Robert Golob was one of the most vocal critics of Israel in the European Union, but Jansa has reversed the policy since coming to power in early June.
Slovenia’s previous government recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, before imposing a ban in 2025 on imports from the Israeli settlements, an arms embargo and entry bans on top officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Upon taking office, Jansa immediately removed the Palestinian flag from the Slovenian government building where it was placed alongside the Slovenian, EU and Ukrainian flags. His government soon scrapped all measures against Israel.
Jansa said on X this week that his government is working to repair the damage of the past administration.
“The economic damage alone due to the anti-Semitic policies of the Golob coalition is enormous,” he said.
Golob accused his successor of blocking the EU from taking a harsher stance on illegal settlements and said in an interview with The Associated Press that the embassy opening marks "another step in the same direction of shifting away from international law.” His Freedom Movement party on Wednesday said it would seek to oust Jansa and Kajzer in Parliament.
In August, media reported that Slovenia forced the EU to water down a statement condemning the Israeli settlements, drawing criticism at home and praise from Israeli officials.
Foreign Minister Kajzer told the AP that “we never blocked anything" but Slovenia is “constructively contributing to the discussion.”
Andraz Zorko, a Slovenian political analyst, said the major policy shift does not align with what he believes is the prevailing public opinion in the traditionally moderate Alpine nation of some 2 million people.
"The majority of Slovenian public is either against Israel or in some kind of neutral position,” he said.
Israel’s embassy in Austrian capital Vienna had previously covered the country’s diplomatic interests in neighboring Slovenia.
Kajzer and Saar on Wednesday signed a multi-sector cooperation agreement in the fields of education, science, culture, youth and sport, the STA news agency reported. A business forum is also taking place in Ljubljana.
A group of protesters hold a banner outside the Slovenian foreign ministry during a visit of Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, and his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer sign bilateral agreements in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, attends a news conference after signing bilateral agreements with his Slovenian counterpart, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, is welcomed by his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s “The Pitt” versus “Pluribus” and “Hacks” against “Widow’s Bay” at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday night.
The stars of all four shows — Noah Wyle in “The Pitt,” Rhea Seehorn in “Pluribus,” Jean Smart in “Hacks” and Matthew Rhys in “Widow’s Bay” — look to be runaway favorites for the top acting awards. And prognosticators are nearly all picking “The Pitt” to win its second straight best drama prize.
But the television competition should otherwise be tight at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on NBC starting at 8 p.m. Eastern with one of the network’s signature stars, three-time Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay, hosting. Peacock will stream the show live. The network is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and will have a “peacock blue” carpet in place of the usual red.
Presenters announced Wednesday include Zendaya, Sally Field, Jon Hamm, Alan Cumming, Keke Palmer, Florence Pugh, Odessa A'zion and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz.
HBO Max’s day-in-the-life-of-an-emergency-room drama “The Pitt” has already become a cultural institution in two seasons, and after big wins as an upstart rookie, it was this year’s top overall nominee with 25. “Hacks,” which follows the travails of a standup comic fighting back against age prejudice, sexism and obscurity in the entertainment industry, led all comedies with a record-breaking 24 nominations for its fifth and final season.
Here’s a closer look at where things stand and how they might play out.
While the biggest stars are still awaiting the opening of the envelopes, the majority of this year’s Emmys were already handed out at early ceremonies Saturday and Sunday.
“Widow’s Bay,” the first-year Apple TV horror comedy with Rhys as the mayor of a small New England town dealing with a centuries-old curse, won a whopping eight Emmys including best guest actress for Betty Gilpin.
The show had been widely acclaimed for its sly shifting between humor and dread, and it got 19 nominations, but few expected such a trophy haul. It can win up to six more on Monday.
“Hacks” managed just one win.
“The Pitt” won four early Emmys including an emotional first career victory for 73-year-old Ernest Harden Jr. as best guest actor in a drama.
“Pluribus,” another Apple TV Emmy rookie, from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, also won four.
The soon-to-be-host Hargitay won two Emmys for the documentary she directed about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, to go with one she already had for her long-running role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
The early Emmys weekend will be edited down to a single recorded show that airs on FXX on Saturday at 8 p.m. in all time zones.
The doctors, nurses and patients of “The Pitt” were flooded with Emmy nominations for Season 2. Many will be competing against one another. There’s so much category overlap that despite having 12 nominations for Monday night’s awards, it can win only six.
Wyle alone can win four Emmys including directing, writing, best drama as a producer and best actor — an award he won last year in his role as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch.
The other best drama nominees are “Paradise,” “Slow Horses,” “The Diplomat,” “The Gilded Age,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” “Your Friends & Neighbors,” and “Pluribus.”
Rarely has a single actor carried a show as much as Rhea Seehorn does “Pluribus,” where she plays one misanthropic woman taking on an alien hivemind that has enveloped almost everyone else alive. Voters are likely to reward the former “Better Call Saul” star with her first Emmy after four nominations.
Seehorn’s fellow nominees include Zendaya, who has won the category twice before for “Euphoria.”
Katherine LaNasa won best supporting actress last year for her “Pitt” portrayal of Nurse Dana, and the character had an even bigger second season, guiding patients through harrowing dramatic moments and becoming a viral phenomenon for the way she says “Baby Jane Doe” — an abandoned child in the ER who plays a key role in the season.
This year she’ll have three castmates — Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif and Sepideh Moafi — as competition.
“It feels really exciting to have more of my colleagues up on the board,” LaNasa told The Associated Press after the nominations were announced.
Two “Pitt” men — Patrick Ball and Shawn Hatosy — are up for supporting actor.
The Emmys loves to give golden send-offs to outgoing shows, and it will be stunning if Jean Smart doesn’t win best actress in a comedy for playing stand-up comic Deborah Vance, as she did for all four previous seasons.
But Emmy voters’ clear affection for “Widow’s Bay” could keep “Hacks” from winning much more. The two shows will be competing for best comedy along with “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Shrinking.”
Hannah Einbinder, who had a breakthrough win last year as best supporting actress in a comedy after four nominations for “Hacks,” will be up against Kate O’Flynn, who wowed with a breakout performance in the debut season of “Widow’s Bay.”
Both shows also have nominees for best supporting actor in a comedy, but they could easily be upstaged by Harrison Ford, who many think will finally win his first major Hollywood award for his performance on Apple TV’s “Shrinking.”
Apple TV has become the dominant force in Emmy comedy. This year’s nominees will benefit from the temporary absence of Apple’s “The Studio,” which had an all-time dominant Emmy performance last year, and of the streamer’s “Ted Lasso,” which put it on the Emmy map.
The limited series categories will have a diminished role at the main Emmys show after four of them were demoted to the early Emmys weekend.
HBO Max’s “DTF St. Louis” was the big winner of those awards, taking best supporting actor and actress for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini.
“Beef” brings star power to the lead acting categories, with Carey Mulligan the consensus favorite for best actress in a limited series and Oscar Isaac favored for best actor.
And after another year of antagonizing President Donald Trump, the late night shows of Jimmy Kimmel and the now-canceled Stephen Colbert are both up for outstanding variety series.
This combination of images shows, top row from left, Macaulay Culkin, Alan Cumming, Jon Hamm, Marcello Hernández, and Dan Levy, bottom row from left, Niecy Nash-Betts, Keke Palmer, Amy Poehler, Florence Pugh, and Zendaya. (AP Photo)
Noah Wyle poses in the press room during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
