THE body of former US President Ronald Reagan, escorted by Nancy Reagan and his children, began its journey to the capital, Washington, yesterday for national memorial services.

AMERICA mourned former President Ronald Reagan yesterday as preparations began in Washington for a state funeral for the man who won the Cold War and the hearts of countless Americans as the "Great Communicator".

WITH wind-driven flames threatening the densely populated San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, firefighters dug in yesterday for another brutal day of battling one of the most destructive and deadly wildfire seasons in Californian state history.

With wind-driven flames threatening the densely populated areas near Los Angeles, firefighters dug today for another brutal day battling one of the most destructive and deadly wildfire outbreaks in California history.

POWERFUL Santa Ana winds kicked up before dawn yesterday, driving a ferocious firestorm that had already burned at least 200 homes onto a path toward more neighbourhoods.

Powerful winds drove two ferocious firestorms that had already burned more than 200 homes into dozens more houses in California today.

Ronald Reagan, who has been in seclusion since disclosing in 1994 that he had Alzheimer’s disease, celebrated his 92nd birthday yesterday at his California home with wife Nancy.

A man suspected of murdering three members of a family in California has killed himself as police closed in on him.

A gunman entered a home in a quiet suburban California neighbourhood and shot five people, killing three, police said.

Ronald Reagan is able to sit up in a chair a day after undergoing surgery to repair a hip he fractured in a fall.