Several Starbucks customers in the United States complained that they were unable to place orders through its mobile app on Thursday — the first day of the coffee chain’s holiday menu. However, Starbucks later claimed that the issue was resolved.

From ordering beverages to buying reusable cups and merchandise, multiple services offered by the Starbucks app were unavailable, US citizens claimed on social media. They were asked to place their order at a Starbucks store, US media reports quoted people as claiming. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience,” the message displayed by the app was headlined. “Mobile ordering is currently unavailable. Please visit one of our stores and place your order with a barista,” it further said. 

Confirming the glitch, Starbucks Care’s official handle replied to a customer stating, “we are currently experiencing a temporary outage of the order ahead and pay feature in our app. We continue to welcome and serve customers in our drive-thrus and stores.” However, the coffee chain hasn’t elaborated on the cause, nature and scale of the issue. 

The response was given to a user called Chritine D, who asked, “is the app down? first day of Christmas at Bucks and my app with ALL my stars won’t work?” 

According to a Business Insider news report, a platform tracking website outages found several users reporting problems with the Starbucks app around 8 a.m. local time. It coincided with the time most Americans tried to order their morning coffee. The media house, in an online article, mentioned that its staff in  Washington, DC, and New York City offices tried to place orders using the app but failed.

As a part of the ‘Starbucks Holiday Menu 2024’, the company is offering Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refreshe, Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, Peppermint Mocha, Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai and Turkey Sage Danish among other items. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS FULL MENU

Welcome to the world of Cannabidiol or CBD, derived from plants like Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica that we better know by names ranging from marijuana and hemp, or simply, by its variant, ganja.

But CBD refers to the medicinal products derived from the plant. Administered as oils, tinctures or even as a neat capsule, CBD is a bonafide medicine whose popularity has been on the upswing in India in recent times — so much so that that there are over 20 CBD-focused medicine manufacturers in the country, with top players like Bombay Hemp Company, Awshad and Indian Hemp Organics (IHO). 

“With more people seeking natural remedies for conditions like pain, anxiety, and insomnia, demand for safe, effective CBD products is rising,” said Richa, co-founder of Awshad. 

Richa ventured into cannabis-based medicines and pain relievers after witnessing the agony and struggle of her beloved pet dog Champ, as he went through a slow, agonising death due to cancer.

“Witnessing his pain inspired me to explore plant-based wellness, leading me to co-found Awshad with Shivam in 2021,” Richa said.

CBD is used for pain, anxiety, insomnia and inflammation, coming in various forms, ranging from full-spectrum of the tetrahydrocannabinol (the main psychotropic part of the cannabis plant), broad spectrum and isolate forms, the levels strictly regulated for medical formulations.

Of course, let’s put any mistaken notion of morality and civics to rest, right away. Cannabis and its various forms of psychoactive substances have been culturally and an intrinsic part of Indian history and social life for centuries, ranging from the mythologies down to lifestyles and festive observations. They were regulated only in the mid-1980s in the country with the draconian Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Prevention) Act 1985, commonly known as NDPS. The act came mainly after major pressure from the Reagan-era USA, which was then struggling under an influx of cocaine and other chemical drugs easily smuggled in from Latin America. 

More worryingly, such trade was also increasingly seen to be financing terrorism and the mafia in many parts of the world. While nations of the world cracked down, a natural Indian healer ended up as the big casualty.

However, the CBD formulation we are talking about is completely legal, a Schedule E-1 drug that is regulated by the Ministry of AYUSH as well as state excise departments. The products are officially allowed on prescriptions and for therapeutic use only, with the cannabis sourced from government-approved farms in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which are strictly regulated and monitored.

“The scope of medical cannabis in India is growing immensely as awareness of its therapeutic benefits expands with our efforts and other companies on educating customers,” added Richa. 

In recent years, recreational cannabis, too, is getting legalised by an increasing number of countries, including Canada, Thailand, many states in the US as well as many countries in Europe. A discussion paper asking comments whether to legalise cannabis and the like is pending with the union government. An expert committee in Himachal Pradesh last year recommended that cannabis be legalised in the state, to generate revenue and create employment.

WADING out of the sea, my daughter Riley is breathless with excitement as she tells me a huge turtle has just floated under her as she was swimming.

Bearing in mind she is 13 and rarely excited by anything these days, it’s clearly an impressive sight.

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That is just one of many things that will wow us on our week in Sarigerme, on Turkey’s Dalaman coast.

It’s been almost three decades since I last visited Turkey – on a girls’ holiday to tourist hot spot Marmaris.

This time, I’ve picked the four-star Tui Blue Tropical, just 20 minutes’ drive from Dalaman airport, for a getaway with my husband Alistair and our twins Riley and Harris.

Here, a marble-clad lobby leads out to the pool area, where you’ll find low-rise buildings housing 500 rooms.

Our junior suite is close to the pool, but not too close to be noisy.

There’s one bedroom with a king-size bed, while two sofas in the living area turn into beds come night.

A spacious balcony overlooks tranquil gardens, while the bathroom comes with a power shower, bathrobes and slippers.

All you can eat

We soon establish that people are up early to get the best sunbeds, but manage to nab a few close to the bustling restaurant by the main pool (there are seven to choose from) and spend the afternoon riding the two water slides and eating vanilla and strawberry ice cream.

At breakfast, we enjoy everything from freshly cooked waffles and pancakes to sausages, bacon and eggs in the main restaurant.

For lunch, we opt for the pool eatery, feasting on a delicious assortment of fresh salads and fish straight from the grill, and it feels super-healthy (other than the glass of white to wash it down).

Anyone with children knows the joy of an all-inclusive – especially with teens who never seem to stop eating.

My two tuck into pizza, pasta, grilled chicken and salad, accompanied by smoothies.

In the evening, it’s back to the buffet, with its variety of themed nights, including Chinese and Italian.

But the Turkish kebabs, houmous, meatballs and delicious breads are all a hit, and the huge selection of Insta-worthy desserts on offer are also a winner.

After dinner, the resort is always buzzing with entertainment – from live music to acrobats and discos, as well as several Turkish-bazaar-style shops to explore.

The kids pick up cheap football shirts, while a Louis Vuitton Neverfull dupe costs me £24, as opposed to the designer handbag price of £1.4k, and it’s pretty hard to tell the difference!

Our favourite place by far, though, is the pristine stretch of sandy beach, with its clear-blue waters.

The nearby beach bar plays cool tunes and serves up a cocktail of the day at 4.30pm to sip from our loungers.

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Some afternoons, I even manage a much-needed exercise class, such as a HIIT and yoga, while morning football goes down a treat with Harris.

There is also daily beach volleyball with the Tui reps, which proves very competitive!

Water activities include parasailing and banana boats – we brave the inflatable and it’s an experience to remember.

A river runs through it

The hotel’s beachfront is not the only place to spot turtles.

Midweek, we take an excursion down the River Dalyan on an eco boat, which costs £49 for adults, £28 for children.

It’s a brilliant way to see a completely different side of Turkey, taking in luscious vegetation, beautiful homes and luxe hotels along the riverbank.

Our first destination is the Dalyan Mud Baths, which claim to have anti-ageing properties and is said to have been visited by Cleopatra to maintain her beauty.

The smell of sulphur hits as soon as we pull up, and it takes some persuasion to get Riley and Harris into the mud pool, where we all cover ourselves in what seems very similar to potent green slime.

After we’ve let the mud dry in the sun, it’s time for a hose down, before a dip in a warm sulphur pool, followed by a cleansing shower.

It’s all great fun, though my bikini has never been the same again and I’m not quite convinced I look any younger!

Back on the boat, we spot a few ancient rock tombs carved into the cliffs by the Lycian civilisation, before stopping at Iztuzu Beach, nicknamed Turtle Beach after the endangered loggerhead turtles that nest here.

We feed several that are swimming around the boats with crab claws, before a spot of sunbathing and a refreshing swim.

Later that evening, when we’ve made sure we are totally mud-free, we walk the 2km into the village of Sarigerme and wander the winding streets.

In quaint little eatery Dorya, we feast on fresh calamari, £3, fillet of sea bass, £7.60, and a huge salad, £1.80, before popping into a few of the village shops to admire the colourful crockery.

I only wish I could fit some in my suitcase!

Before we know it, it’s time to fly home and say goodbye to one of the loveliest places we’ve ever been.

• Seven nights for a family of four at Tui Blue Tropical cost from £879 per person (Tui.co.uk).

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I FEEL about six years old, hands and knees covered in thick mud, as I emerge from a tunnel only big enough to crawl through, first used by Christian settlers more than 1,200 years ago to escape Viking raids.

I’m at Knowth, the world’s largest passage tomb, just 20 minutes north of Dublin in Ireland’s Boyne Valley.

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The ancient sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Howth were built 5,000 years ago for the burial of around half a dozen “god-like” people.

Our tour guide explains that the monuments, older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge, were built like giant lasagnes, with huge stones piled one on top of the other.

Known as the birthplace of Ireland’s ancient east, the Boyne Valley is ideal for exploring Ireland’s history and tradition — without travelling too far from Dublin Airport.

After my ancient sites tour, I headed to Causey Farm in Fordstown, which offers groups of tourists the chance to “be Irish for the day” for as little as £12pp.

Arriving to the homely smell of a wood-burning stove, I’m shown how to make Irish soda bread, before moving on to a lesson on the traditional Irish drum, known as a bodhrán (pronounced bow-ran).

Next comes a tour of the animals — I get to meet a fluffy, ten-week-old border collie that melts my heart, as well as a slightly less charming (actually terrifying) pig, some alpacas and rabbits.

The visit finishes with farmer Matt Murtagh demonstrating how his sheepdog Crick effortlessly corrals a herd of sheep wherever he demands, at one point playfully running the herd inches from me.

The Boyne Valley is also ripe with history — it’s the setting for the 1995 Mel Gibson film Braveheart and where the Battle of the Boyne was fought between deposed King James II and the newly crowned King William III in 1690.

At Trim Castle, a guided tour starts at just £2.50 and it is free to explore the grounds.

We get to climb right to the roof, stopping to see key rooms along the way, with walls covered in 18th century graffiti — a John Gibney marked his name in 1760.

We’re then shown the chapel where the priests’ ornate wash basin can still be seen, and there’s even a medieval toilet (read hole in the floor) — lucky us!

If history isn’t your thing, Park Beo, an adventure base in Wilkinstown, offers a “gateway” to the Lakelands Greenway — a cycle path stretching 18 miles along an old railway line from Navan to Kingscourt — as well as shops selling everything from cheese toasties to cherry bakewells produced by a local.

With a huge car park, it acts as space to service visitors who want to head out for a walk with a fresh takeaway coffee.

There’s also a bi- cycle hire office with bikes and e-bikes to rent from £8.30 an hour.

If you prefer a seafront amble, this region boasts miles of impressive coastline.

The village of Annagassan, a former Viking settlement, has breathtaking coastal views, with a dramatic tide perfect for razor clams.

Seafood banquet

You can sample them fresh at local joint, The Glyde Inn, a charming 18th-century pub with roaring fires and an award-winning restaurant with panoramic sea views.

For something extra special, the family-run Irish National Pub of the Year award winner offers a dinner-and-show style “Viking VR Experience” for £50pp.

Each ticket gets you a pint of Irish Pale Ale, brewed down the road, as well as a ten-minute VR show of what the area would have looked like at the time of the Vikings in 841 AD, when Bjorn the Great was in charge of the settlement there.

Then comes the main event, a seafood banquet of whatever has been caught that day.

I was served Carlingford oysters and crab and butter-coated razor clams to start, followed by a main course of black sole with wilted sea beech foraged just outside the restaurant’s patio doors, served alongside a creamy sea radish mash.

Try to book for late afternoon, as from 5.30pm to 6.30pm each day a live band plays traditional music.

It’s the perfect ending to any Irish adventure.