According to news reports Russian and Georgian armed forces are in a pitched battle over South Ossetia, the majority ethnic-Russian breakaway province in Georgia. The Secretary General is urging restraint. And so far, over 1,000 civilians have fled South Ossetia to Russian territory. Global Voices Online offers a grounds eye view from bloggers in the region.

Also via Global Voices, this Russia Today clip (posted on Aid Worker Daily) gives an update from the front lines.

...introducing "Rattus Holmes in the Case of the Spoilsports," in which a rat detective and his feline sidekick help restore honor and integrity to the summer games by investigating doping and steroid use.

UNESCO launched the cartoon this week, in advance of today's opening ceremony, to help garner support for the International Convention Against Doping in Sport.