The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh said Thursday it will dissolve itself and the unrecognized republic will cease to exist by this year’s end after a three-decade bid for independence. While Armenian officials said over half of the region’s population has already fled.

The moves came after Azerbaijan carried out a lightning offensive last week to reclaim full control over the region and demanded the Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh disarm and the separatist government will dissolve itself.

House Republicans on Thursday opened their first formal hearing to make a case for the impeachment of President Joe Biden. The chairmen of the oversight, Judiciary, and ways and means committees are using the first hearing of their impeachment inquiry to review the constitutional and legal questions surrounding their investigation of Biden. They are trying to show what they say are links to his son, Hunter’s, overseas business. Though they have yet to produce hard evidence of any serious wrongdoing.

Police said a murder suspect who was mistakenly released two weeks ago from jail in Indianapolis was captured on Wednesday by U.S Marshalls in Minnesota where he faced charges in a 2021 killing. Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal said “28-year-old Kevin Mason was apprehended in the afternoon in St. Paul.”

Lily Lupardus can be reached at lupa5957@stthomas.edu.