Nobel Peace Prize laureate and others who took on Belarus' president are among the freed prisoners

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Saturdayfreed 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and key opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Viktar Babaryka, as part of a deal with Washington that lifted U.S. sanctions on the country's vital fertilizer exports.

A close ally of Russia, Belarus' authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, hasruled the nationof 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades. Belarus has beenrepeatedly sanctionedby the West for its rampant crackdown on dissent and for allowing Moscow to use its territory in the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has released hundreds of prisoners since July 2024 in what is seen as an effort by Lukashenko to win a reprieve from the bruising restrictions.

Here's a look at some of the prominent prisoners released Saturday and others who are still in prison:

Ales Bialiatski and Viasna rights advocates

Human rights advocate Bialiatski won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 along with the prominent Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties. Awarded the prize while in jail awaiting trial, he was later convicted of smuggling and financing actions that violated the public order — charges widely denounced as politically motivated — and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The 63-year-old, who founded Belarus' oldest and most prominent human rights group, Viasna, was imprisoned at a penal colony in Gorki in a facility notorious for beatings and hard labor.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Bialiatski said his release after 1,613 days in prison came as a surprise and felt "like I jumped out of icy water into a normal, warm room."

Bialiatski, who looked pale and emaciated but energetic, vowed to continue his human rights work, saying that "more than a thousand political prisoners in Belarus remain behind bars simply because they chose freedom. And, of course, I am their voice."

Uladzimir Labkovich, another Viasna activist implicated in the same case as Bialiatki, was also released.

Maria Kolesnikova, opposition leader

Kolesnikova was a key figure who helped organize themass protests that shook Belarus in 2020. She was a close ally ofSviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition leader who was forced into exile after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 vote.

Kolesnikova, known for her close-cropped hair and trademark gesture of forming a heart with her hands, became an even greater symbol of resistance when Belarusian authorities tried to deport her in September 2020. Driven to the Ukrainian border, she tore up her passport and walked back into Belarus, where authorities took her back into custody.

The 43-year-old professional flutist was convicted in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to seize power and sentenced to 11 years in prison. She fell seriously ill behind bars and underwent surgery.

"It's a feeling of incredible happiness!" she said Saturday after being released. "To see the eyes of the people who are dear to me, to hug them, to understand that we are all free people now. At the same time, I am thinking about those people who are not yet free, and I am very much looking forward to the moment when we can all hug each other."

Viktar Babaryka, former presidential hopeful

Viktar Babaryka, a banker and philanthropist, waded into politics in 2020 and sought to challenge Lukashenko in the presidential election. He quickly gained broad popularity but was denied registration for the race and was jailed less than two months before the vote in what he denounced as "medieval repressions."

Babaryka, 62, was ultimatelyconvicted on corruption chargesthat were widely seen as politically driven and sentenced to 14 years in prison in July 2021. At the time, the U.S. embassy denounced the verdict as a "cruel sham," saying it showed that Lukashenko's "regime will stop at nothing to keep power."

Maxim Znak, a lawyer and part of Babaryka's team who was convicted along with him, was also released Saturday.

Maryna Zolatava, prominent journalist

A number of journalists were released Saturday, including the editor of the popular independent news site Tut.by, Maryna Zolatava.

Zolatava was arrested in May 2021 and was later sentenced to 12 years in prison following her conviction on charges of incitement and distributing materials urging actions aimed at harming national security — counts that authorities widely use against independent journalists and opposition supporters. International journalism organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have persistently called for her release.

Still in prison: journalist Poczobut and others

Andrzej Poczobut, a correspondent for the influential Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and a leading figure in Belarus' Polish minority, was arrested in March 2021.

Now 52 years old, he was convicted in February 2023 of "damaging national security" and "inciting hatred" for his coverage of the protests that erupted after the 2020 vote and sentenced to eight years in prison.

He was sent to a harsh maximum-security prison despite concerns about his health, and he has repeatedly refused to ask Lukashenko for pardon.

Among others still behind bars are Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Babaryka's son Eduard, who helped run his father's presidential campaign.

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and others who took on Belarus' president are among the freed prisoners

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Saturdayfreed 123 prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ale...

Read More

Another Arctic Blast Of Bitter Cold Air Pushing Temperatures Below Zero In Midwest This Weekend

Yet another arctic blast of bitter cold air spread into the Central Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes and will spread through much of the East by early next week, sending some temperatures plunging below zero with much colder wind chills in areas shivering through a cold start to December.

Some will see temperatures plummeting over 30 degrees below average by Sunday and Monday mornings.

Timing

Another powerhouse arctic front is on the way. Here is when even colder air will arrive:

- Sunday: The Northeast and much of the South, except Florida

- Monday: Lingering in the Northeast, Southeast (including northern Florida) and Great Lakes

(MORE:Need A Cold Escape? These Areas Are Record Warm Right Now)

'High'lights

Put simply, it will be bitter cold the rest of the weekend in the Midwest.

Highs may not make it out of the single digits from Minnesota into parts of Indiana.

On Sunday, teens may be as warm as it gets in the Ohio Valley. These may set some record cold highs for this time of year in Cincinnati and Indianapolis, among other locations.

For Sunday and Monday, highs may struggle to rise much above freezing for the Northeast from Boston to Washington, D.C., and 40s for highs are as warm as it could get in parts of the Deep South and northern Gulf Coast Monday.

(MAPS:10-Day US Forecast Highs/Lows)

'Low'lights

Subzero morning lows are expected not just in the typical cold spots, but also as far south as Indiana, central Illinois and northern Missouri by Sunday morning, possibly again Monday morning.

Sunday morning, lows in the teens, even 20s below zero are forecast from the eastern Dakotas to Minnesota, Iowa and western Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities.

A few of these areas could flirt with daily record lows Sunday morning.

Elsewhere, the coldest morning lows in the Northeast and South will be Monday and Tuesday morning. Lows in the Northeast will range from the teens in the interior to low 20s along the immediate I-95 corridor. Twenties will dominate the Deep South, with a freeze expected to the northern Gulf Coast and northern Florida.

Dangerous Wind Chills

Unfortunately, winds will also accompany the Arctic front.

This combination of cold and winds will sendwind chillstumbling into the teens, 20s, even 30s below zero, at times this weekend in the Northern Plains and upper Midwest.

So, minimize your time outdoors in these areas this weekend. If you have to venture outside, make sure any exposed skin is covered up.

(MAP:Current Wind Chills)

Any Relief Ahead?

It has beenamong the top 10 coldest first 10 days of December on recordin several locations in the Great Lakes and East, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. Among them are New York's JFK Airport (seventh coldest), Roanoke, Virginia (seventh coldest), and Grand Rapids, Michigan (sixth coldest).

We do expect another brush of cold air along the northern tier from the Dakotas to Great Lakes and Northeast later next week.

After that, however, longer-range computer models are suggesting this persistent cold pattern will be shoved back into Canada by late next week into Christmas week in a potential pattern change.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Another Arctic Blast Of Bitter Cold Air Pushing Temperatures Below Zero In Midwest This Weekend

Yet another arctic blast of bitter cold air spread into the Central Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes and will spread th...

Read More

Orbán's rival leads protest over alleged child abuse in Hungary's state-run institutions

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian Prime MinisterViktor Orbán's main challenger on Saturday led tens of thousands of demonstrators through the streets of Budapest in a protest over alleged child abuse in state-run juvenile institutions, an issue that has already shaken Orbán's government following a scandal last year.

The demonstration, called byOrbán's top rival, Péter Magyar, came in response to videos published this week depicting employees of a juvenile correction facility in Budapest physically abusing children housed there. The former head of the facility, who is in police custody on suspicion of operating a prostitution ring among other crimes, has also been accused of subjecting minors to physical and sexual abuse.

Police raided the correction center this week, though critics have accused Orbán's government of failing to act despite reports of misconduct going back years. Magyar, whose center-right Tisza party ispolling ahead of Orbán's Fideszin most independent surveys, has jumped on the case and accused the government of failing to protect vulnerable children, and called on Orbán to resign. Elections are expected to take place in April.

The Hungarian government's communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The crowd Saturday gathered in cold temperatures in central Budapest and marched solemnly across the Danube River. Many marchers lit torches as dusk fell, and began climbing toward Orbán's offices on Castle Hill.

One marcher, Sándor Horvát, who traveled some 200 miles (325 kilometers) to the protest from Tiszabecs on the Ukrainian border, said he believed Orbán's government "will be gone" by the time of elections.

"In other countries, the entire government would have fallen over this scandal. But here we see them clinging to power tooth and nail," he said.

The abuse of minors in state-run institutions has previously caused a political crisis for Orbán's government. In 2024, Hungary's president, Katalin Novák, and justice minister, Judit Varga,resigned amid public outragestemming from their endorsements of a pardon for a man convicted of helping cover up cases of child sexual abuse in a public orphanage.

The scandal represented a rare moment of weakness for Orbán, who has ledHungarywith near total power since returning to office in 2010. Magyar, a former insider within Orbán's Fidesz party, burst into Hungary's political spotlight as the case unfolded, accusing the government of misconduct and corruption.

Addressing the crowd assembled outside the government's executive headquarters on Saturday, Magyar drew parallels between last year's pardon scandal and the more recent child abuse allegations, saying: "Twenty-two months ago, a country put a question to the Hungarian government: Can it change and improve the situation of children, or will it remain an accomplice of child abusers?"

"Orbán's government promised everything, but since then, unfortunately, it turned out that every member of the Orbán government took the side of the abusers," Magyar said.

Orbán's government has condemned the physical abuse seen in the published videos while arguing that the cases of child abuse coming to light showed that Hungary's child protection system was working effectively to root out wrongdoing.

Still, several government figures, including Orbán, have emphasized that the juvenile residents of the facility had been placed there because they'd committed crimes or engaged in other misconduct, depicting the institution as a prison for minors.

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Orbán's rival leads protest over alleged child abuse in Hungary's state-run institutions

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian Prime MinisterViktor Orbán's main challenger on Saturday led tens of thousands of ...

Read More

Fernando Mendoza steps into Heisman spotlight as Indiana’s reluctant star

Fernando Mendoza's mother Elsa watched all his interviews this season.

TheIndiana footballquarterback is earnest to a fault — a trait his family knows all too well — and he put that on full display earlier this fall when he told a reporter winning aHeisman Trophywould be "great and all," but what he really wanted was a national title.

"I just thought, oh my gosh, I hope none of the voters see that," Elsa said with a laugh. "Maybe don't say it like that."

Heisman moments:How finalists made their pitch this season

The close-knit Mendoza family actually never had a conversation about the Heisman until the day before the votes were due, even though he had long been a favorite to reach New York. Mendoza's focus throughout the fall was "playing for his brothers" as his father, Fernando IV, said with a note of pride in his voice.

Mendoza never campaigned for the award, and IU's athletic department followed his lead. He's still headed tothis weekend's Heisman Trophy ceremony as a finalist, and heavy favorite for the award.

IU coach Curt Cignetti met with Fernando Mendoza at midseason for all of 14 seconds about him being a frontrunner for the Heisman.

It was enough time for the two to have a fleeting conversation as the team's starting quarterback walked through his coach's office in the north end zone of Memorial Stadium without even sitting down.

"Let's keep the main thing the main thing, and that is to win football games," Mendoza said of Cignetti's message.

Cignetti kept the chat brief knowing Mendoza was already on board with his advice based on how the quarterback handled IU's success throughout the season, even as the spotlight on him burned brighter.

"I've just tried to follow his example," Mendoza said.

Mendoza cemented his status as a Heisman favorite in a Week 4 win over then-No. 9 Illinois. He threw for five touchdowns in the 63-10 rout to help the Hoosiers score the most points by a Big Ten team against a top-10 opponent in league history.

He became just the second FBS player (C.J. Stroud) with five passing touchdowns while completing 90% of his passes against an A-ranked opponent in the past 30 years.

"Some of my friends said it to me like, 'oh, you know, you're in the Heisman race.'" Mendoza told reporters Tuesday night. "And I was like, 'that's so cool, maybe I can show my kids, hey, I was in the Heisman race.'"

He had added a series of Heisman-worthy moments in the weeks that followed with three game-winning drives on the road. Histouchdown throw to Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone at Beaver Stadiumhad Fox's play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson telling viewers to "give him the Heisman Trophy now."

Mendoza still avoided mentioning the topic unless he was asked. When the questions became unavoidable, he would turn the focus on how his teammates were equally deserving of recognition.

"I wanted him to be a tennis player because I was, but he just loved that team mentality," Elsa said. "He's a team player in every sense of the word."

It wasn't until he officially became a finalist for the award that Mendoza finally felt comfortable talking about it, but he still wants people to know the only reason he's going to New York is thanks everyone in his orbit.

"There's an analogy like, the only reason we're able to see stars in the sky is because the light reflects from all different types of stars," Mendoza said. "And I have so many stars around myself, whether it's my teammates, my coaches, my family, the support staff, that I'm able to shine now in this light. And I'm just so happy for everyone to be a part of this."

There's a long history of programs trotting out flashy marketing stunts to create buzz around potential Heisman candidates.

Oregon was responsible for one of the more prominent examples of that back in 2001 with their "Joey Heisman" campaign to promote quarterback Joey Harrington for the award. The school spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 to purchase an 80-by-100 billboard across the street from Madison Square Garden to boost Harrington's visibility.

Indiananever considered taking that kind of approach.

See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action

"Coach Cig and I were 100% on the same page on this, the best thing we could do to help Fernando win the Heisman was to develop him and put him in position for success," Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said. "That's the same thing Fernando wants."

Dolson credited the program's strategic communication for striking the perfect balance of promoting Mendoza's incredible numbers throughout the season without overshadowing the team's overall success.

"We didn't want this to look like some political campaign," Dolson said. "No one was interested in that."

It also wasn't necessary thanks to the way Indiana's fan base rallied around Mendoza.

On a rain-soaked afternoon in Bloomington, the student section braved the elements and a lightning delay to watch Mendoza throw for 332 yards and four touchdowns while completing 85.7% of his attempts.

The students turned their shirts into rally towels andstarted chanting "HeisMendoza" as Fernando put the finishing touches on a 38-13 win over Michigan Stateon Oct. 18.

"The fans did a lot of the heavy lifting," senior associate athletic director for strategic communications Jeremy Gray said. "The best marketing is organic and authentic, the fans did the chants and made the hashtag, and national media picked it up. Every good throw he had, someone was tweeting 'HeisMendoza.' That's better than any ad buy."

Now that we have reached the second bye week of the season, we wanted to take a minute to discuss quarterback Fernando Mendoza.On the field, Mendoza has put up nation-leading stats & program records. Off the field, he uses his platform to engage with the community & aid causes…pic.twitter.com/O3E5dbSQAA

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball)November 17, 2025

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Fernando Mendoza steps into Heisman spotlight as Indiana’s reluctant star

Fernando Mendoza's mother Elsa watched all his interviews this season. TheIndiana footballquarterback is ear...

Read More

Alabama vows to address Oklahoma's 'disrespect' when they meet in the CFP's opening round

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama players haven't forgotten their last game — last two, really — against Oklahoma.

The Sooners won23-21 in Tuscaloosa a month agoand then celebrated by taking photos at midfield after ending the Crimson Tide's 17-game home-winning streak. Alabama staffers ushered the Sooners off the logo,creating a contentious scene that included at least one Oklahoma player spitting on the logo.

"That type of disrespect will be addressed on the field," Tide linebacker Justin Jefferson said. "We just got to go give it to them, take the ball off them and bring it home for Alabama."

No. 11 Alabama will get another shot at eighth-ranked Oklahoma when they meet in the opening round of theCollege Football Playoff.

The rematch is in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday night. It's the second straight rematch for the Crimson Tide, which beat Georgia 24-21 in the regular season and thenlost to the Bulldogs 28-7 in the SEC championship game.

Alabama (10-3, No. 9 CFP) stopped short of calling this one a revenge game, but a few factors add another level of motivation.

"We're really excited," Jefferson said. "I've never beaten Oklahoma, so I'm more than ready. I think we have what it takes."

Few guys on Alabama's roster have beaten Oklahoma (10-2, No. 8 CFP).

The Sooners smoked Alabama 24-3 in Norman in 2024 and prevented the Tide from making the CFP. This season's loss left Alabama squarely on the playoff bubble — and likely prevented the tradition-rich program from hosting a first-round game.

Now the teams meet for the third time in a little over a year, with much higher stakes. The winner advances to the quarterfinals to take on top-ranked and top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

"We know what to expect as far as playing them," Alabama star receiver Ryan Williams said. "We have a great idea of what's to come. We just have to execute at a high level."

Getting a grip on turnovers would be a start.

The Tide turned the ball over three times against Oklahoma, including an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown. On the other side, the Sooners were the only team to not commit a turnover against the Tide in the regular season.

Turnovers also hurt Alabama in the SEC championship, with an interception leading to a Georgia touchdown in the first half.

"We just need to execute the simple," Williams said. "Make simple plays simple and continue to try to be the best ball security and ball dominant team in the country."

If Alabama takes better care of the ball, it surely improves its chances of an upset — and getting payback. Oklahoma is a 1 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

"Coming up short at the end of the game was disappointing because that's something we've done a pretty good job of," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. "Go back to the Oklahoma game, a number of our guys got dinged up and just grinding through it.

"I'm sure Oklahoma is looking to get some guys back, including probably a continued stronger quarterback with (John) Mateer. I know that that's the thing that draws a lot of attention on their end. But we're looking forward to this rematch."

If Alabama wins, no one should be surprised to see players heading to midfield.

"It's just a blessing to get another opportunity," Jefferson said. "To play again, compete for a national championship, another learning moment this season."

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Alabama vows to address Oklahoma's 'disrespect' when they meet in the CFP's opening round

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama players haven't forgotten their last game — last two, really — against Oklahoma. ...

Read More

Jorge Polanco reportedly agrees to 2-year, $40 million deal with Mets

Jorge Polanco is heading across the country after he reportedly agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets,according to multiple reports. The Metsplan to use Polancomainly at first base and designated hitter.

Polanco, 32, has spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Mariners after 10 seasons in Minnesota. During the Mariners' run to the AL Championship Series, Polanco slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI.

In signing Polanco, the Mets will not have to part with any draft pick compensation after he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Mariners following the 2025 season.

Polanco's signing comes on the heels of a rough week for the Mets after they lostPete Alonso to BaltimoreandEdwin Diaz to the Dodgers, and aftertrading Brandon Nimmoto the Texas Rangers last month.

After acquiring Marcus Semien in the Nimmo trade and now signing Polanco, the Mets have set up the right side of their infield for 2026, despite Polanco having played only one game at first base in his career.

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Jorge Polanco reportedly agrees to 2-year, $40 million deal with Mets

Jorge Polanco is heading across the country after he reportedly agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New Yo...

Read More

Is the English cottage from “The Holiday” real? Inside the Surrey home that inspired the Christmas getaway

Sony Pictures

Key Points

• Nancy Meyers' The Holiday hit theaters on Dec. 8, 2006.

• Fans fell in love with the quaint English cottage featured in the film.

• Though the cottage was built for the film, it was inspired by a similarly cozy real-life home.

What if a home swap for the holidays led to more than just a change of scenery? That's the story of the 2006 rom-comThe Holiday.

After a painful heartbreak, London columnist Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) lists her idyllic cottage in the English countryside on a home exchange website. Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), a movie trailer editor looking to escape her life for a little while, comes across the listing, and the two agree to swap homes for the holidays. Amanda heads to Iris' cozy cottage, while Iris soaks up the sun at Amanda's luxurious Los Angeles mansion.

Quaint and snug, the snow-dusted Rosehill Cottage charms with its warm, inviting rooms and classic English character, making it the perfect festive getaway. Fans have been enchanted by it the cottage for years, but is it real? Here's the truth about Rosehill Cottage — and the home that inspired it.

Is the Rosehill Cottage fromThe Holidayreal?

Sony Pictures

No, the Rosehill Cottage isn't real. We are just as devastated as you are.

In a November 2024 interview with BBC Radio,Jude Law confirmed the heartbreaking truthafter the hosts eagerly asked if they could "Airbnb that cottage."

"That cottage doesn't exist," he revealed. "Oooh, yeah," he added as gasps and a number of stunned reactions filled the studio. One of the hosts even wailed, "That's my dream home!"

Law went on to explain that writer-directorNancy Meyerssearched high and low for the perfect cozy English hideaway, but never found a real one that could be used in the film.

"So the director, she's a bit of a perfectionist," he said. "She toured that whole area and didn't quite find the chocolate box cottage she's looking for." As such, she hired some magical gnomes (we assume) to build one for her.

Law also dished on a major behind-the-scenes detail: "So, we were shooting in the winter here. And every time I'd go in that door, we'd cut, and we shot the interiors in L.A. about three months later."

When the hosts begged him to stop talking, calling the news "really upsetting" and something they "couldn't bear," Law laughed. "Just burst the bubble. Sorry!"

Was Rosehill inspired by a real English cottage?

Columbia Pictures/ Everett

Although the cottage was built specifically forThe Holiday, its design reportedly draws inspiration from Honeysuckle Cottage, an actual English cottage tucked away in the Surrey village of Holmbury St Mary. Thehome made headlinesin 2018 when it hit the market for roughly $821,000.

Inside, the cottage offers more space than its quaint exterior suggests. According to thelisting, it includes three bedrooms, a kitchen, a cloakroom, a living room, and much more (though it apparently has just one bathroom).

The listing describes the Honeysuckle Cottage as a "stunning extended period cottage with ironstone galleting and brick quoins under a tiled roof complemented by leaded light windows."

It also boasts an "inglenook fireplace," and "delightful landscaped gardens," with several pubs and shops just a short walk away (very much in line withThe Holiday).

In late 2022, Airbnb listed the Honeysuckle Cottage for roughly $340 per night,per House Beautiful. As of this writing, however, it no longer appears to be listed.

What about Amanda's mansion — is it real?

Sony Pictures

While Rosehill enchants with its storybook appeal, Amanda's Los Angeles mansion is a decidedly different kind of dream home. Lavish, sprawling, and undeniably glamorous, it lends itself to the big screen.

Although the movie's interiors were filmed on a soundstage at Sony Pictures Studios, fans ofThe Holidaywill be pleased to know that the exterior is very real and can be found at 1883 Orlando Road in San Marino, Calif.

Designed by architect Wallace Neff, themulti-million dollar estate is enormous, featuring seven bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, and an automatic gate.

Holidayfans will instantly recognize the balcony, where Amanda confronts her cheating boyfriend just before swapping homes. They'll also note the expansive backyard with its in-ground pool that Arthur (Eli Wallach) uses get into shape for a gala held in his honor.

The househit the marketback in May 2018 for $11.8 million and sold almost a year later for $9.5 million. Despite being a private residence, it's become a popular tourist stop. "We have to keep the gates closed 24/7," realtor Brent Changtold CNBCin 2018. "If open just five minutes, we find someone in the front yard taking a selfie with the house. It's that recognizable."

Where can I watchThe Holiday?

Sony Pictures

The Holidayis currently available torent or buy on Prime Video.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byDonna Devi

in

December 13, 2025

Is the English cottage from “The Holiday” real? Inside the Surrey home that inspired the Christmas getaway

Sony Pictures Key Points Nancy Meyers' The Holiday hit theaters on Dec. 8, 2006. Fans fell in love with the quaint English cottage fe...

Read More