PARIS

Parliament defies Turkey by banning genocide denial

France’s parliament voted Monday to make it a crime to deny that the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago constituted a genocide, risking more sanctions from Turkey and complicating an already delicate relationship with the rising power.

Turkey, which sees the allegations of genocide as a threat to its national honor, suspended military, economic and political ties and briefly recalled its ambassador last month when the lower house of parliament approved the same bill.

Before Monday’s Senate vote, Turkey threatened more measures if the bill passed, though did not specify them. President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose party supported the bill, still needs to sign it into law, but that is largely considered a formality.

NEW YORK

Big natural-gas producer cuts back on its drilling

Faced with decade-low natural gas prices that have made some drilling operations unprofitable, Chesapeake Energy Corp. says it will drastically cut drilling and production of the fuel in the U.S.

Chesapeake, the nation’s second largest natural gas producer, said Monday that it plans to cut its current daily production by 8 percent. Over a year, that means the company would produce the same or slightly less natural gas in 2012 than it did in 2011. Chesapeake produces about 9 percent of the nation’s natural gas.

WASHINGTON

Mortgage lenders and states reach deal over deceptions

The nation’s five largest mortgage lenders have agreed to overhaul their industry after deceptive foreclosure practices drove homeowners out of their homes, government officials said Monday.

A draft settlement between the banks and U.S. states has been sent to state officials for review.

Those who lost their homes to foreclosure are unlikely to get their homes back or benefit much finan- cially from the settlement, which could be as high as $25 billion. About 750,000 Americans will likely receive checks for about $1,800.

But the agreement could reshape long-standing mortgage lending guidelines and make it easier for those at risk of foreclosure to restructure their loans. And roughly 1 million homeowners could see the sizes of their mortgages reduced.

ESTACADA, Ore.

Six-year-old swept away after falling into river

An Oregon man raced along the rain-swollen Clackamas River but couldn’t keep up with his 6-year-old daughter after she fell in and was swept downriver, authorities said.

Rescue workers looked for Vinesa Snegur on Sunday afternoon and Monday along the waterway, which is running fast and cold from a recent winter storm.

“It was just a second of inattention,” said Sgt. James Rhodes of the Clackamas County sheriff’s office. “He turned away. Then, splash, and she fell in.”

 

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