With a record number of athletes competing in a record number of events, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are set to formally begin later today, as the Games' opening ceremony gets underway. This will be the first time the Olympics has been held in South America, though preparations for these landmark Games have not been without controversy.In recent months, Brazil has suffered political turmoil and economic instability, with Rio in particular having come in for criticism over various health and safety issues. At the same time, world athletics is struggling to come to terms with the fallout from a doping scandal involving Russia, which has seen many of that country's athletes barred from competing in the Rio Games.So, in the face of so many difficulties, what sort of a Games will Rio be able to deliver? Which teams and athletes are likely to feature highly in the medal table? And what sort of a legacy will these Games leave for both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil as a whole? These questions and much more on this edition of Today, where we'll be discussing the 2016 Olympic Games.

The  new British government will seek investment from around the world- China's homegrown transit elevated bus hits the road- A South Korean congressman has criticized his country's decision to deploy an anti-missile defense system

China is strongly opposed to Japan's latest defense white paper- China considers overhauling its steel industry to cut overcapacity- Criticism intensifies in South Korea following President Park's decision to deploy an anti-missile defense system

The US has begun conducting air strikes on IS positions in Libya- Figures indicate China's manufacturing sector has officially slipped into contraction- the waterways in and around Rio are still polluted only days before the Olympics start

Erdogan slams the US's harboring of the priest he says is behind a failed Turkish coup- Chinese athletes are actively preparing for the upcoming Olympics in Rio- A leading Chinese observer warns the deployment of a defense missile system may sour ties between China and South Korea

With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions held these two weeks, the United States puts an unprecedented primary season behind it and officially moves into the general election campaign. Arguably America’s most consequential election in perhaps decades, America is faced with a stark choice.On the one hand, there is an inward looking firebrand breaking convention left and right, pledging to do away with political correctness and make the country great again. On the other, a career establishment politician, representative of the elite and continuity, with one of the best resumes of any presidential candidate. At the same time, (this comes as) Americans are more concerned about their future and more polarized and divided since possibly the Civil War.So how has the U.S. found itself at this point? What are the merits and otherwise of each candidate? And what is the right path forward for America? These questions and more on this edition of Today where we discuss the U.S. presidential election.

China has announced plans to turn itself into a great internet nation- The 40th anniversary of China's deadliest earthquake is being marked- A deadly bombing by ISIS in north-east Syria has killed 44 people

An attack on a church in Northern France was allegedly carried out by affiliates of ISIS- A suicide bombing in Mogadishu by al-Shaabab has claimed 13 lives- Hilary Clinton has officially been nominated as the US Democratic presidential candidate

China and ASEAN nations have signed a joint statement calling for peace and stability in the South China Sea- Bernie Sanders' supporters have disrupted the first night of the Democratic Party's national convention- German officials have stressed the importance of integration in relation to the recent spate of attacks in the country

Funerals have taken place in Kabul for the victims of a suicide bomb attack that killed 80 people- Former Philippine President Ramos is to head to Beijing for talks over the South China Sea- The chair of the US Democratic National Committee has resigned over a scandal involving leaked emails