THE 97-year-old American’s memories of comrades blown away on either side of him on Iwo Jima are a world away from his vision of the island after returning to commemorate one of World War II’s fiercest battles.

Hundreds of US Marines landed on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima today to prepare for the 65th anniversary of one of the Second World War’s bloodiest battles.

Clint Eastwood's 2006 war films 'Flags of our fathers' and 'Letters from Iwo Jima' have already become dated after Japanese officials agreed to change the name of the island where the country's soldiers battle Americans during World War II.

A memorable double from actor/director Clint Eastwood, ‘Flags of our Fathers’ and ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ (Warner, €24.99 or €27.99 each) looks at one of the bloodiest conflicts during World War II — the invasion of Iwo Jima.

A US search team on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima is zeroing in on a cave where a Marine combat photographer who filmed the famous flag-raising 62 years ago is believed to have been killed in battle nine days later.

It took 26 years, six directing nominations and two screenplay nominations, but Martin Scorsese finally has his Oscar.

The companion piece to the much-lauded Flags Of Our Fathers, Eastwood’s memorable story of the iconic raising of the Stars-and-Stripes during the bloody WW2 Pacific battle.

Clint Eastwood is tipping Martin Scorsese to fulfil his Academy Award ambitions this year and beat him to the Best Director prize.

Veteran Hollywood star Clint Eastwood is to receive an humanitarian award from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

IF REALITY television majors, these days, on the re-cycling of the second-rate nearly-famous, film is rediscovering people of rather different calibre.

The Producers Guild of America has picked nominees for 2006's best film from both ends of the budget spectrum.

IRISH actor Peter O’Toole has been nominated for a Golden Globe.

Clint Eastwood's Japanese-language film Letters From Iwo Jima has won the first major prize of the film-award season.

As a child, Clint Eastwood watched his share of war movies. Later on, he’d star in them. But now, as he puts the finishing touches on a pair of films about the bloody Second World War battle for Iwo Jima, he says he has a changed perspective.

JAPAN’S coast guard sent aircraft yesterday to investigate reports of a one kilometre-high column of water vapour that shot up from the Pacific Ocean near Iwo Jima - a possible sign of volcanic activity - officials said.

Japan’s coastguard sent aircraft today to investigate reports of a one kilometre – (3,300-foot) high column of water vapour that shot up from the Pacific Ocean near Iwo Jima – a possible sign of volcanic activity – officials said.

A 1km (3,300ft) -high column of water vapour shot up from the Pacific Ocean off a tiny Japanese island today, indicating a possible undersea volcanic eruption, a report said.

Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood has promised the governor of Tokyo, Japan, he will respect the capital's war sites when he visits to shoot his controversial World War II film.

NOT content with President Mary McAleese’s apology for her recent gaffe, people are now looking for an apology to Jewish people for Eamon de Valera’s condolence gesture to the German minister following the death of Hitler.

Country singer Johnny Cash, who died this morning, had been battling ill health for some time.

AS a former US Marine living in Ireland I was saddened to learn of Bob Hope’s passing.

WEST AFRICAN leaders yesterday pledged to have the first peace troops in warring Liberia by Monday and said indicted war-crimes suspect President Charles Taylor would go into exile within days.

The European Union urged Liberia’s warring rivals today to sign up to a lasting ceasefire and called on rebels to lift their nine day siege of Monrovia to allow food and aid into the capital.

A couple say they are the owners of an American flag that three firefighters hoisted amid the ruins of New York’s World Trade Centre in a photograph that became one of the most famous images of September 11.