Tayyip Erdogan's main political opponents have faced an unprecedented crackdown that has seen more than 500 detained in just nine months, according to a Reuters review of a sprawling investigation that has accelerated dramatically in recent days.

The probe has targeted only municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People's Party, the party of modern Turkey's secularist founder.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan spent years pushing a grand vision. A neo-Ottoman revival. A stronger Turkey, which is independent of the West. But in the halls of BRICS diplomacy, that vision fell apart.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan appointed on Thursday a new communications director, Burhanettin Duran, a deputy foreign minister who will take up a role aimed at keeping a tight leash on the mostly pro-government media.

The state news agency said a total of 15 people, including the mayors, were detained as part of a corruption investigation.

When Turkey applied to join the BRICS alliance last year, Western countries and investors were surprised. The reason for the surprise is Turkey being a part of NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said publicly many times that he wants BRICS membership for Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish DEM party Monday to discuss the next steps after PKK militants agreed to end their decades-long insurgency. DEM, Turkey's third-biggest party,

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish DEM party on Monday, marking a significant step in Turkey's renewed peace efforts with Kurdish militants. The meeting follows recent progress toward ending the PKK's decades-long armed struggle.

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party will meet President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to push a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, while Turkish media reported the PKK would start handing over weapons in Iraq this week.