In brief: Sean Penn says he has nothing to hide over drug lord interview

MEXICO CITY – Actor Sean Penn said he has “nothin’ to hide,” after images published Monday indicated he was under surveillance when he met with the Mexican actress who led him to Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman – and the pair was apparently followed and photographed as they set out for the supposedly secret meeting with the drug lord.

In a brief email exchange with the Associated Press, Penn also dismissed criticism over his interview with the fugitive, who was captured on Friday, a day before Penn’s 10,000-word story was published in Rolling Stone magazine.

Mexican officials have said that contacts between Guzman’s lawyers, Penn and actress Kate del Castillo helped them track down the fugitive and they raided his hideout in rural Durango state a few days after their Oct. 2 meeting. Guzman evaded authorities then but was finally captured after a shootout Friday in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa.

Deadly mall attack claimed by Islamic State

BAGHDAD – The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Baghdad mall attack that killed 18 people on Monday. Gunmen stormed into the Jawhara Mall after setting off a car bomb and launching a suicide attack at its entrance.

Iraqi officials say the attack, which lasted over an hour, killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 in the city’s mainly Shiite east.

The IS statement, posted online shortly after the attack, said a car bomb and four IS fighters carried out the attack, targeting an area where many Shiite Muslims are known to gather and warned of “worse” to come.

Afghan peace talks make ‘good progress’

ISLAMABAD – Four countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States – were cloistered away late into the night Monday trying to lay a foundation they hope will eventually lead to peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban fighters. But in the end, the biggest decision that appeared to be reached was to meet again.

Still, an Afghan official said, “some good progress” was made during what turned out to be a marathon session.

The Taliban were not invited to the talks.

The presence of the U.S. and China together at the table reflects the urgency of getting talks started. China has historically close ties with Pakistan, and while there were four countries represented at Monday’s talks, Pakistan – which is often accused of harboring Taliban leaders, including the fierce Haqqani group, a U.S.-declared terrorist group – is seen as the key to getting the largest contingent of Taliban fighters to the table.