Main news of August 27

WORLD

* Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaya was named the country's defense minister on Thursday, replacing David Sikharulidze, the presidential administration said

RUSSIA

* Russia's Defense Ministry denied on Thursday media reports alleging that 3,800 troops would be redeployed from the Moscow Region to the Caucasus to bolster antiterrorism efforts

* The presidents of Russia and Belarus held three-hour informal talks on Thursday, pledging to tackle problems hindering bilateral ties, a Kremlin aide said

* The legendary Soviet-era children's writer and poet Sergei Mikhalkov, who penned the lyrics to the Soviet and modern Russian national anthems, died on Thursday at the age of 96

* Eight men detained last week on suspicion of hijacking the Arctic Sea cargo ship have been arraigned on piracy and kidnapping charges, Russia's special investigations committee said

* Russian prosecutors have begun inspections of state-run corporations following instructions from President Dmitry Medvedev, the Prosecutor General's Office said