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Utah Cat with a Fondness for Cardboard Takes Surprise Trip to California in an Amazon Box

In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)
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Utah Cat with a Fondness for Cardboard Takes Surprise Trip to California in an Amazon Box

In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)

Galena, a 6-year-old house cat from Utah, likes hiding and playing with cardboard.

Earlier this month, the combination of the two made for a stressful trip in an Amazon package, a feverish search, a California rescue and a tearful reunion.

Her family is still waiting to "reintroduce cardboard to her again," owner Carrie Clark said Tuesday, because they don't want to stress her out.

Clark got Galena as a kitten after her aunt rescued a pregnant feral cat. The American short hair with calico and Siamese coloring has been a constant companion and source of emotional support.

"I’ve been through a bunch of health things and she and I have gone through all of that together. And she’s she just has this extra great part about her personality that’s very loving. And she can tell when you don’t feel well," Clark said. "And she's just really, really special to me."

So when Galena disappeared on April 10, Clark was beside herself.

They searched the neighborhood, put up flyers and posted notices on Facebook lost pet pages in Lehi, Utah.

"Not knowing what had happened to her was pretty excruciating," Clark said, "I cried my eyes out for seven days trying to figure out what had happened." Clark also ran through all the worst-case scenarios, wondering if the cat could have gotten out of the house and been nabbed by a predator or run over by a vehicle.

Clark said she received a "text that changed my life" on April 17, saying that Galena's microchip had been scanned, so Clark knew she had been found somewhere. Soon after, she got a call saying her cat was near Riverside, California, after being found in a box along with steel-toed boots that had been returned to an Amazon warehouse.

Clark's husband had ordered several pairs of boots, kept one and returned the rest in a large box on April 10.

"We realized that that our sweet kitty must have jumped into that box without us knowing," she said.

Amazon employees knew just who to call when they found the feline — co-worker Brandy Hunter, who rescues cats, Clark said.

Hunter took the cat home and to the vet the next day, where the microchip was scanned.

Clark spoke with Hunter who "calmed me down and told me that my kitty was OK," despite having spent six days in a cardboard box without food or water.

"I wanted desperately to be with her," Clark said. She and her husband flew to California the next day, reunited with Galena at the veterinarian's office and rented a car to drive home.

"We did what we needed to do because I just adore her," Clark said.

It was an intensely emotional week.

"I went from hysterically laughing that she was stuck like that — we mailed our cat — you know ... just the humor part of that, to hysterically crying all within like five seconds," Clark said.

The family was lucky to get Galena back, Clark said, in part because the weather was not harsh during the time the cat was missing, the box was torn at a seam, allowing her to get more air, and because Hunter who took her to a vet and had her scanned for a microchip.

Since word got out, Clark has been sharing her cat's story, with advice to microchip your pets and to double-check your Amazon boxes before returning them.

Galena is a quiet cat, Clark said.

"She didn’t meow," Clark said. "We would have loved for her to meow so we knew that she was," in the box.

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Varieties

UK Braced for Heavy Snow as Cold Weather Snap in Europe Persists

Lost Earth Adventures' instructor Mick Ellerton climbs a frozen waterfall in Gordale Scar near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as ice warnings are in place across the UK ahead of a storm which is set to bring heavy snow later in the week, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Lost Earth Adventures' instructor Mick Ellerton climbs a frozen waterfall in Gordale Scar near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as ice warnings are in place across the UK ahead of a storm which is set to bring heavy snow later in the week, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
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UK Braced for Heavy Snow as Cold Weather Snap in Europe Persists

Lost Earth Adventures' instructor Mick Ellerton climbs a frozen waterfall in Gordale Scar near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as ice warnings are in place across the UK ahead of a storm which is set to bring heavy snow later in the week, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Lost Earth Adventures' instructor Mick Ellerton climbs a frozen waterfall in Gordale Scar near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as ice warnings are in place across the UK ahead of a storm which is set to bring heavy snow later in the week, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Britain, already in the midst of one of its coldest and longest cold snaps in years, is set to endure heavy snowfall and strong winds later Thursday that weather authorities have warned could bring a risk to life.

The brunt of the storm coming in from the Atlantic is set to be felt in central England, with as much as 30 centimeters (12 inches) of snow falling in just a few hours, which inevitably will have potential implications for schools, travel and commerce, particularly in more rural areas.

Storm Goretti, which has been named by the French weather service France Meteo, is expected to leave Britain's shores by late Friday before further impacting other parts of northwest Europe, which have already endured snow, ice and freezing temperatures in recent days.

Neil Armstrong, chief forecaster at the Met Office, Britain's national meteorological service, described Goretti as a “multi-hazard event” with heavy rain, strong winds and snow, The AP news reported.

The Met Office has issued amber warnings for many parts of the UK. These have an “increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather” compared to the lower yellow warnings, meaning there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, flight cancellations, power cuts and potential risk to life and property.

The snowfall will mean trains and planes could be delayed or cancelled, rural communities may be cut off, and power cuts and disruption to mobile signal are likely.

Amber cold weather health alerts have also been extended by the UK Health Security Agency for all regions of England until Jan. 12, which means severe impacts across health and social care services are expected. Officials expect a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, with impacts also possible on younger age groups.

Many parts of Wales, northern England and Scotland have been blanketed with snow over the past few days that has led to numerous school closures and travel disruption.

In the Netherlands, the bad weather eased on Thursday, helping Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, which saw hundreds of flights canceled on each of the first three days of the working week, trying to return to normal. However, it was briefly hit by a power outage in the morning.

Dutch national carrier KLM said there were still long lines of passengers at the airport but added that it was “doing everything possible to ensure departing passengers leave on time.”

Varieties

Volcano Guides at Mount Etna are Protesting over New Safety Rules

A group of people observes glowing lava emerging from a fissure during ongoing volcanic activity on Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
A group of people observes glowing lava emerging from a fissure during ongoing volcanic activity on Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
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Volcano Guides at Mount Etna are Protesting over New Safety Rules

A group of people observes glowing lava emerging from a fissure during ongoing volcanic activity on Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
A group of people observes glowing lava emerging from a fissure during ongoing volcanic activity on Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti

Guides who take tourists to enjoy the striking views of Sicily’s Mount Etna are up in arms over tougher restrictions imposed by local authorities after a round of eruptions at the giant volcano in recent weeks.

Authorities in the city of Catania have suspended or restricted excursions to see the volcano's lava flows, prompting guides to go on strike for the first time in decades and leaving disgruntled tourists with fewer options to see the spectacle up close, The Associated Press reported.

Dozens of the guides demonstrated Wednesday in front of Mount Etna’s lava flow gate, calling the new restrictions excessive and saying the lava flows are slow-moving enough to be viewed safely as has been done in the past.

“These measures effectively nullify the role of guides, stripping them of their skills, function, and professional responsibility,” a statement by the guides’ regional board said.

The lava flows are especially spectacular after sunset, but under the new rules, excursions are allowed only until dusk and can go no closer than 200 meters (660 feet) to the lava flow. Also, a previously existing limit of 10 people per group is being vigorously enforced, including with drones.

Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano and the continent’s largest. It attracts hikers and backpackers to its slopes, while less adventurous tourists can take it in from a distance, most stunningly from the Ionian Sea.

At 3,350 meters (almost 10,990 feet) tall and 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) wide, the Sicilian giant frequently offers a front-row seat to nature’s power. Last June, a massive eruption forced tourists to flee the volcano after a plume of high-temperature gases, ash and rock several kilometers high billowed into the air above them.

The latest restrictions were adopted after Mount Etna started a round of eruptions on Christmas Eve.

The most advanced lava front reached 1,360 meters (4,460 feet) above sea level, before stopping and entering a cooling phase after a journey of approximately 3.4 kilometers (about 2 miles), local authorities said. The lava flow poses no danger to nearby residential areas, volcanologists say.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology confirmed this week that Mount Etna’s eruption is ongoing, but said the lava fronts are cooling and not advancing further.

“This is a lava flow that is descending very slowly on an area that is now also flat or semi-flat,” said Dario Teri, 43, a member of Sicily’s association of alpine and volcano guides who participated in Wednesday’s protest.

The guides, who are expected to continue their strike in the coming days, hope to come to a compromise with authorities that can protect their profession while also ensuring the safety of visitors.

Claudia Mancini, a 32-year-old tourist, said she came from Palermo for an excursion with a guide at Mount Etna.

“Unfortunately, we got the bad news of the cancelling of all activity,” Mancini said, adding that she sympathized with the guides over a situation that “is not making anyone happy.”

Varieties

Lego Unveils Tech-Filled Smart Bricks

Lego unveils Smart Bricks (AFP)
Lego unveils Smart Bricks (AFP)
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Lego Unveils Tech-Filled Smart Bricks

Lego unveils Smart Bricks (AFP)
Lego unveils Smart Bricks (AFP)

Lego has unveiled Smart Bricks - tech-filled versions of its small building blocks - which it says will bring sets to life with sound, light and reaction to movement, according to the BBC.

However, the new product range has got a mixed reaction from play experts, who said it risks undermining what makes Lego distinct for children in an increasingly digital world.

Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, the Danish toymaker's Smart Play system introduces new electronic components to the classic plastic blocks.

Lego said its new tech-enabled products, launching in March with a new Star Wars set, are its “most revolutionary innovation” in nearly 50 years.

But Josh Golin, executive director of children's wellbeing group Fairplay, believes Smart Bricks could “undermine what was once great about Legos” - harnessing children's own imagination during play.

He said the toy did not require extra features to generate sounds or other effects.

“As anyone who has ever watched a child play with old-school Legos knows, children's Lego creations already do move and make noises through the power of children's imaginations,” he told the BBC.

Andrew Manches, professor of children and technology at the University of Edinburgh, agreed the beauty of Lego lay in “the freedom to create, re-create, and adapt simple blocks into endless stories powered by children's imagination.”

But he also welcomed Lego's efforts to integrate physical and digital play with tools that react to the way children interact with its Smart Play products.

Julia Goldin, the company's chief product and marketing officer, previously told the BBC it viewed digital technology as an opportunity to “expand physical play and physical building.”

“We don't look at the digital world as a threat,” she said - adding its smart range weaves interactivity “seamlessly” with its physical products.

What are Lego Smart Bricks?

Lego says its Smart Bricks can sense motion, position and distance, allowing the models to respond in various ways during play.

Measuring 2x4, the brick itself contains sensors, lights, a small sound synthesizer, an accelerometer and a custom-made silicon chip enabling it to detect movement and react to it.

But it is designed to be used with Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags tiles - two additional products making up Lego's Smart Play System.

Similarly adapted from existing Lego components, these possess digital identifiers triggering different sounds or reactions when they detect and interact with each other.

For instance, when tried out by the BBC at CES, a Lego birthday cake recognized when its “candles” were blown out - sounding a cheer and a happy birthday song.

Meanwhile, a Lego helicopter made whooshing sounds when moved or rotated, with its Smart Brick lighting up red upon crashing.

Tom Donaldson, head of Lego's Creative Play Lab, said the tech intended to respond to children's actions and complement the way they naturally play.

He said the Smart Brick's reactions to responses would “hopefully inspire and surprise the user to keep them continuing to play.”

“We are building a platform that we want to last for many years,” he said.
Manches told the BBC reduced cost and size of components has “enabled more toymakers to integrate digital technology seamlessly into a range of toys.”

But he added despite exciting innovation, concerns remain about the security and privacy of new and emerging smart toys for children - particularly those which integrate AI.

“The key is to us all to remain critically reflective of the design of these toys, and to pay much attention to how they influence children's everyday lives,” he said.

It is not the first time Lego has dabbled in digital experimentation or sought to appeal to increasingly online audiences.

Since 2017 it has released augmented reality apps and experiences letting people play with computer-generated models layered over their surroundings.

Through collaborations with video game publishers such as Nintendo and Fortnite-maker Epic Games it has also looked to appeal to fans of trending games or new launches - releasing a Super Mario Minifigure in 2020 with a tiny display screen.

Lego chief executive Niels B. Christiansen said in the firm’s 2024 annual report it had accelerated spending on digital technology as a “strategic area” for the company.