A New York City woman had some unexpected roommates living in her apartment: 50,000 bees.

WABC-TV reports (http://7ny.tv/1whc4PZ ) beekeepers removed the swarm from Frieda Turkmenilli's ceiling this week after her neighbors in Queens alerted the building manager.

Hamas has signed a proposal for the Palestinians to apply to join the International Criminal Court at which legal action could be taken against Israel, a senior official of the Islamist movement said Saturday.

"Hamas signed the document which (Palestinian) president (Mahmud Abbas) put forth as a condition that all factions approve, before he goes to sign the Rome Statute, which paves the way for Palestine's membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC)," Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuq wrote on his Facebook page.

A former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice convicted of corruption was spared on Thursday the further embarrassment of having to write her court-ordered apologies to every judge in the state on photos of herself in handcuffs.

A state appeals court upheld the conviction of Joan Orie Melvin and said she still must write apologies to the state's judges. But it found the photo requirement served no legitimate purpose and was meant only to "shame and humiliate her."

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg resume their title bids at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, with 11 points separating the Mercedes teammates and Hamilton leading 5-4 in race wins. Among the sport's talking points is the news that Max Verstappen will become the youngest ever F1 driver when he makes his debut at the age of 17 in next year's championship. Meanwhile, drivers Alexander Rossi and Andre Lotterer are set for F1 debuts of their own in Spa, where Frenchman Romain Grosjean needs to find some form.

Here are five things to know ahead of Friday's first practice session:

Bastia striker Brandao has been temporarily suspended by the French league after he headbutted Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta at the end of last weekend's match.

The French league's disciplinary committee decided on Thursday to "provisionally suspend Brandao starting from Friday, August 22" ahead of a hearing on Sept. 18.

Former Brazil striker Fred warned on Thursday that he and his Fluminense teammates might not play this weekend following threatening behavior by fans after the team's recent run of defeats.

A few dozen Fluminense fans shouted abuse at players, threw objects and hit out at their cars earlier Thursday as the team left a Rio de Janeiro airport where it had touched down following a 1-0 loss to Chapecoense, its third in a row.

Star goalkeeper Tim Howard is taking a one-year break from the U.S. national team because of a "commitment" to his family.

The three-time World Cup veteran asked U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann to not consider him for the roster until September 2015. The 35-year-old Howard will continue to play for Everton in the English Premier League.

The Dominican Republic government commission that oversees public performances is banning a Sept. 13 concert by Miley Cyrus on morality grounds.

The commission said in a statement Thursday that it took the action because Cyrus often "undertakes acts that go against morals and customs, which are punishable by Dominican law."

Archaeologists excavating a large burial mound in northern Greece that has captivated the public's imagination have asked politicians and others seeking guided tours of the site to leave them in peace.

The Culture Ministry appealed Thursday for "understanding" while the Amphipolis excavation proceeds.

New research suggests a one-two punch could help battle polio in some of the world's most remote and conflict-torn regions: Giving a single vaccine shot to children who've already swallowed drops of an oral polio vaccine greatly boosted their immunity.

The World Health Organization officials said the combination strategy already is starting to be used in mass vaccination campaigns in some hard-hit areas and is being introduced for routine immunizations in developing countries.