Sudan Crisis. Thousands try to leave
Sudan Crisis. Thousands try to leave

the capital, Khartoum. This is News Review from
the capital, Khartoum. This is News Review from

BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Beth.
BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Beth.

Make sure you watch to the end to learn vocabulary to talk about this story.
Make sure you watch to the end to learn vocabulary to talk about this story.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel, like this video
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel, like this video

and try the quiz on our website.
and try the quiz on our website.

Now, the story.  
Now, the story.  

Humanitarian crisis in Sudan as thousands try to leave.
Humanitarian crisis in Sudan as thousands try to leave.

Fighting broke out on the 15th of April because of disagreements between  
Fighting broke out on the 15th of April because of disagreements between  

the country's military leadership. About five hundred civilians
the country's military leadership. About five hundred civilians

have been killed so far in the capital, Khartoum,
have been killed so far in the capital, Khartoum,

according to the UN.
according to the UN.

A 72-hour ceasefire was agreed from Monday.
A 72-hour ceasefire was agreed from Monday.

You've been looking at the headlines, Beth.
You've been looking at the headlines, Beth.

What's the vocabulary?
What's the vocabulary?

We have: worst-case scenarios, accelerates and window.
We have: worst-case scenarios, accelerates and window.

This is News Review from BBC Learning English.
This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

Let's have our first headline.
Let's have our first headline.

This is from The Guardian.
This is from The Guardian.

'The worst of worst case scenarios': western diplomats blindsided
'The worst of worst case scenarios': western diplomats blindsided

over Sudan Crisis.
over Sudan Crisis.

So, the headline says that
So, the headline says that

diplomats have been blindsided by this crisis.
diplomats have been blindsided by this crisis.

It means it was a big surprise.
It means it was a big surprise.

We're looking at 'worst-case scenario'.
We're looking at 'worst-case scenario'.

Now, I'm sure we all know 'worst',
Now, I'm sure we all know 'worst',

but 'worst-case scenario' – what does it mean?
but 'worst-case scenario' – what does it mean?

Well, 'worst-case scenario' describes a situation, or scenario,  
Well, 'worst-case scenario' describes a situation, or scenario,  

which is the worst possibility, the worst case in that situation.
which is the worst possibility, the worst case in that situation.

So, of all the bad outcomes
So, of all the bad outcomes

that could have happened,
that could have happened,

this was the worst.
this was the worst.

It's as bad as it could get.
It's as bad as it could get.

OK. So, in the headline,
OK. So, in the headline,

'worst case scenario' is a quote. The person who said it was
'worst case scenario' is a quote. The person who said it was

a UN representative, an important position,
a UN representative, an important position,

but can we use this in our everyday English?
but can we use this in our everyday English?

Yeah, we can and it's often used when we talk about future  
Yeah, we can and it's often used when we talk about future  

possible situations or outcomes. So, you imagine the possible outcomes
possible situations or outcomes. So, you imagine the possible outcomes

and this is the worst of those options.
and this is the worst of those options.

Yeah. So, imagine you're hiking in the mountains.
Yeah. So, imagine you're hiking in the mountains.

The weather gets bad.
The weather gets bad.

You get lost. The worst case scenario is that you could actually die.
You get lost. The worst case scenario is that you could actually die.

But, it doesn't have to be life or death situations.
But, it doesn't have to be life or death situations.

Imagine that your car breaks down. The worst possible scenario
Imagine that your car breaks down. The worst possible scenario

is that you have to buy a new car.
is that you have to buy a new car.

We should mention that there is also the opposite, the 'best-case scenario'.
We should mention that there is also the opposite, the 'best-case scenario'.

And in that situation,
And in that situation,

the best-case scenario is
the best-case scenario is

you just need a minor fix for your car.
you just need a minor fix for your car.

Let's look at that again.
Let's look at that again.

Let's look at our next headline.
Let's look at our next headline.

This is from the enquirer.net.
This is from the enquirer.net.

UN warns of 'catastrophic conflagration'
UN warns of 'catastrophic conflagration'

in Sudan as foreign exodus accelerates.
in Sudan as foreign exodus accelerates.

So, lots of interesting words in this headline.
So, lots of interesting words in this headline.

'conflagration' is a violent event.
'conflagration' is a violent event.

'exodus' is when lots of people try to leave somewhere.
'exodus' is when lots of people try to leave somewhere.

But, we are looking at the verb 'accelerate'
But, we are looking at the verb 'accelerate'

and it might be useful to think about cars again.
and it might be useful to think about cars again.

Yeah, it might be. So, we use 'accelerate' for a car when it speeds up
Yeah, it might be. So, we use 'accelerate' for a car when it speeds up

– you press the accelerator. Now, in the headline,
– you press the accelerator. Now, in the headline,

it says that a 'foreign exodus accelerates'.
it says that a 'foreign exodus accelerates'.

So, it means that lots of people are leaving more quickly than before.
So, it means that lots of people are leaving more quickly than before.

And you used the phrasal verb
And you used the phrasal verb

'speed up' there, which also means 'accelerate'.
'speed up' there, which also means 'accelerate'.

We can also say 'quicken' to mean the same thing.
We can also say 'quicken' to mean the same thing.

We can, and we can use 'accelerate' in lots of different situations.
We can, and we can use 'accelerate' in lots of different situations.

So, runners in a race might accelerate when they see the finish line.
So, runners in a race might accelerate when they see the finish line.

And diseases can accelerate. In 2020,
And diseases can accelerate. In 2020,

Covid infection rates accelerated around the globe.
Covid infection rates accelerated around the globe.

Let's look at that again.
Let's look at that again.

Let's have our next headline.
Let's have our next headline.

This is from Sky News. Ceasefire under way in Sudan as UK
This is from Sky News. Ceasefire under way in Sudan as UK

government warned not to miss window for evacuations.
government warned not to miss window for evacuations.

So, this headline describes the UK
So, this headline describes the UK

government warning people to evacuate Sudan. That means
government warning people to evacuate Sudan. That means

get out quickly, and not miss the window.
get out quickly, and not miss the window.

Now, when we say 'window',
Now, when we say 'window',

we probably think of that space in a wall, usually covered by glass.
we probably think of that space in a wall, usually covered by glass.

Yeah. And it definitely helps to think about that.
Yeah. And it definitely helps to think about that.

So, literally a window is a space.
So, literally a window is a space.

But here, we're talking about a window of opportunity.
But here, we're talking about a window of opportunity.

This is a metaphorical space for an opportunity, or a limited time
This is a metaphorical space for an opportunity, or a limited time

when there's a chance to do something.
when there's a chance to do something.

Yeah. So, window is used in the headline to mean that people have
Yeah. So, window is used in the headline to mean that people have

a small, or limited amount of time to leave Khartoum, or Sudan, altogether.
a small, or limited amount of time to leave Khartoum, or Sudan, altogether.

That's right. And we can also use 'window'
That's right. And we can also use 'window'

like this when organising time. So, in business, for example,
like this when organising time. So, in business, for example,

maybe you need an urgent meeting, but it has to happen today.
maybe you need an urgent meeting, but it has to happen today.

So, there's only a small window of time or opportunity.
So, there's only a small window of time or opportunity.

Yes or perhaps you are applying for a job
Yes or perhaps you are applying for a job

and you need to do it quickly before the window closes and
and you need to do it quickly before the window closes and

it's too late to apply.
it's too late to apply.

Let's look at that again.
Let's look at that again.

We've had: worst-case scenarios – worst possible situations,
We've had: worst-case scenarios – worst possible situations,

accelerates – speeds up
accelerates – speeds up

and window – a limited period of time.
and window – a limited period of time.

And if you like learning vocabulary from the news
And if you like learning vocabulary from the news

then click here for a playlist of our previous News Review stories.
then click here for a playlist of our previous News Review stories.

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Thanks for joining us. Bye! Goodbye.
Thanks for joining us. Bye! Goodbye.