outages. the biggest threat, ice accumulation plus strong winds that could knock down power lines and tree limbs. the impending storm also heightening the demand for groceries as stores struggle with supply chain challenges. buy what you need but don t panic buy. reporter: the massive system marched across the midwest, dumping up to a foot of snow in portions of the dakotas and minnesota. des moines, iowa, reporting close to 14 inches. roads taking a treacherous return in missouri as the storm intensified on saturday. more dangerous weather threats are headed to the northeast with snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the forecast. a wintry blow that is far from over. and alex, just being out and about today, residents here in charlotte, really they re not used to this kind of weather. at last check the most significant ice storm in the area was december of 2002 when
today, the deputy prime minister said don t panic buy, we ve got everything we need, we ve got all the sugar, buckwheat, don t panic. the trouble is that when a russian official says don t panic, the sceptical public tends to panic. thank you. the time is 6:19. our top story this evening. nazanin zaghari ratcliffe, held for six years in iran, says it should never have taken the government so long to secure her release. and coming up the spring covid boosterjab programme launches for the over 75s and those with high risk in england. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, france win the six nations for the first time in 12 years but what will another poor finish in the table mean for england and eddie jones?
0ne one of the consequences of western sanctions is fear in the population here that a deep recession lies ahead. russians consider prices are rising. they are worried by inflation and unemployment. so what did he do? they go down to the shops and they buy up all the essentials. the result, sugar has sold out. it is very difficult to find sugar in the shops right now and a lot of supermarkets are now limiting the sale of certain foodstuffs like vegetable oil and flour and salt. today, russia s deputy prime minister said don t panic buy. we have got everything we need. got all the sugar, all the buckwheat, don t panic. the trouble is that when a russian official says don t panic, the very sceptical russian public tends to, well, panic. president biden warned today of evolving intelligence
a fortnight ago, we discussed the charge made by many of you that the bbc, and other news media, had created queues at the petrol pumps by excessive reporting of fuel shortages an accusation rejected on this programme by the bbc s deputy director of news, jonathan munro. now a similar criticism is being made, following broadcasts such as this on wednesday s news at six. don t panic buy, but do plan ahead for christmas, that is the message to shoppers from a global shipping boss who has warned that a shortage of hgv drivers is having a knock on effect on ports around the uk. felixstowe is the biggest it has 50,000 containers waiting to be collected, and ships are having to wait for up to ten days to unload. several viewers contacted us about that, and similar coverage elsewhere on bbc news, and two of those viewers recorded videos for us terry miles and, first, julie nash. once again, the bbc is reporting
of shortages, specifically this time that we re going to be short of things at christmas. you re repeating this over and every day this week. have you learned nothing from the fuel shortage situation you created by overreporting on this little localised temporary disruption? you started your wednesday 6pm news bulletin about the container hold ups at felixstowe with the words don t panic buy. now we all know how well that worked when you used those words during the recent fuel shortages, so either the bbc news is incredibly naive, or it s being really irresponsible. well, i m joined now by paul royall, editor of bbc one s news bulletins. and paul, what is the response to those viewers?