This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Rachel Wright and in the early hours of Saturday the 19th of October, these are our main stories.

Israel blockades part of northern Gaza, dashing hopes that the

killing of the Hamas leader might bring about an early ceasefire. An electricity

outage plunges the whole of Cuba into darkness and leaves it without power.

And the US startup offering Americans the chance to have smarter children by testing the

IQ of their embryos.

Also in this podcast, We are working on our apartment, as well as a party or a pub.

It will include conversations within the scenario.

Using virtual reality headsets to treat cocaine addiction. It took a day after Israeli troops said they'd killed him, but Hamas has finally confirmed

the death of its leader, Yaya Sinwa, the man believed to have

masterminded the brutal massacre and hostage taking in southern Israel

on the 7th of October last year.

Despite hopes from leaders in Europe and America that the killing might present an opportunity

for progress towards a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages, both Hamas and Israel

appear to be stepping up a gear.

Amichai Chickley is a minister in the Israeli government.

He told the BBC that Israel was now blockading part of the north of Gaza.

It is the northern part of Gaza.

We are speaking about the region of Jebalia, Betlai, Betheli, Bethánun.

We've created a blockade with our forces.

We allowed the civilian population to escape into the

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