Hiroshima Marks 80 Years As US-Russia Nuclear Tensions Rise

Hiroshima is marking 80 years since the world's first atomic bomb attack (Credit: AFP)

Japan marks 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Wednesday with a ceremony reminding the world of the horrors unleashed, as sabre-rattling between the United States and Russia keeps the nuclear "Doomsday Clock" close to midnight.

A silent prayer was due to be held at 8:15 am (2315 GMT), the moment when US aircraft Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" over the western Japanese city on August 6, 1945.