Fighting Zika... Possible breakthrough in Syria talks... Italians try to dig put from deadly earthquake

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is widening its effort to stop the spread of the Zika virus. The Food and Drug Administration is telling all U.S. blood banks to start screening for Zika. It's intended to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne virus. Previously, blood testing was mostly limited to parts of Florida and Puerto Rico, where Zika is spreading. Screening will initially extend to states along the Gulf Coast and a few others.

GENEVA (AP) — The United States and Russia say they have resolved a number of issues standing in the way of restoring a nationwide truce to Syria and opening up aid deliveries. But, after meeting in Geneva on Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were still unable to forge a comprehensive agreement on stepping up cooperation to end the brutal war that has killed hundreds of thousands.

AMATRICE, Italy (AP) — Residents and visitors in three earthquake-ravaged towns in central Italy are trying to recover from the tragedy that's taken the lives of at least 281 people. The mayor of Amatrice (ah-mah-TREE'-cheh), the tiny hilltop town most affected by the quake that struck early Wednesday, says damage from aftershocks to two crucial access roads threatens to isolate the town. Officials say 221 of the 281 confirmed dead were killed in Amatrice.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's personal physician tells NBC News he needed just five minutes to write a glowing public assessment of Trump's health as a limousine waited to carry the letter back to Trump. Dr. Harold Bornstein's report last December remains the only medical information released so far by Trump's campaign. In an interview today, Bornstein says the 70-year-old Trump is in excellent health both physically and mentally.

PHOENIX (AP) — The investigation and possible prosecution of metropolitan Phoenix Sheriff Joe Arpaio (ahr-PY'-oh) will be handled by the U.S. Justice Department. According to a court filing, federal prosecutors in Arizona asked to be removed because of unspecified conflicts of interest. A federal judge has ruled that another judge should decide if Arpaio and others should be held in criminal contempt-of-court for ignoring court orders in a racial profiling case.

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