Southern California Wildfire/AP NewsMinute

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) — Populated areas about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles remain in danger from a 35-square-mile wildfire that keeps growing. More than 2,800 people and 700 homes are under evacuation orders that are expected to last until late today or tomorrow. Officials say the fire is feeding on old, dry brush, some of which hadn't burned in decades.

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese media official says the death toll is expected to grow following a massive fire at a poultry plant in northeastern China where at least 113 people are known dead. News reports and officials say workers were trapped inside a cluttered slaughterhouse. The Xinhua (shin-wah) News Agency quoted survivors as saying escape was difficult.

BERLIN (AP) — Heavy rainfall over several days in central Europe has sent raging watersfrom three rivers into large parts of the southeast German city of Passau. A spokesman for the city's crisis center says the situation is "extremely dramatic" and waters are expected to rise to their highest level in 70 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top staff officers will be on the hot seat tomorrow at a Senate hearing on the growing number of sexual assaults in the military. Witnesses to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee include Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. While open to legislated changes, military officials say they're concerned that too drastic an overhaul will lead to unintended and alarming consequences.

UNITED NATIONS (AP)— The first signatures are expected today on an international treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar global arms trade. The treaty approved by the U.N. General Assembly will require countries that ratify it to establish regulations to control the international transfer of conventional arms and to regulate arms brokers.