The United Nations says it has received assurances from the U.S. government that U.N. communications networks "are not and will not be monitored'' by American intelligence agencies.

But chief U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky would not comment Wednesday about whether the world body had been monitored in the past, as reported recently by the German magazine Der Spiegel.

Nesirky said the United Nations contacted the United States about reports that the U.S. National Security Agency had cracked the U.N. communications encryption system.

Earlier, members of a European Union Parliament delegation, visiting Washington to discuss the spying issue, said they will look into a claim by the NSA director that European countries helped it collect phone records in Europe.

German European Parliament member Elmar Brok told reporters the loss of trust between Europe and the United States is dramatic and may not be repaired for years.

President Barack Obama traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, Wednesday to promote his signature health care law, amid widespread criticism of the government’s troubled launch of its health care website. Health insurance coverage has become a contentious political issue in the United States, and the president chose Boston for his speech in order to make a statement.

Kathleen Sebelius appeared before a congressional panel and, for the first time, said she is sorry for the miserable experience many have had trying to sign up for health insurance on the government website.

“You deserve better. I apologize. I am accountable to you for fixing these problems and I am committed to earning your confidence back by fixing the site,”

Sebelius pledged that the government website will be running smoothly by the end of November.

Iraq's prime minister appears to be getting some assurances of U.S. help to counter a surge in violence as he begins a series of meetings with top officials in Washington.

Nouri al-Maliki met Wednesday with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who reiterated the U.S. commitment to Iraq.

"We're committed to strengthening the security in Iraq as well as an enduring partnership.''

Following the meeting, a senior U.S. official said a delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Iraq is on track for late next year despite some earlier delays. Iraq recently made a $650 million down payment for the planes.

The Obama administration has again criticized China for significantly undervaluing its currency, but stopped short of labeling Beijing a currency manipulator.

In its twice-yearly report to Congress on Wednesday, the United States Treasury acknowledged the value of China's currency, the renminbi, is rising, "but not as fast or by as much as is needed."

The Khmer Rouge's former number two leader denied charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in his final statement at a United Nations-backed tribunal Thursday.

Nuon Chea told the Phnom Penh court he never instructed any of his communist cadres to commit crimes. Although he expressed his "deepest remorse" for the victims of the Khmer Rouge, the 87-year-old insisted he was carrying out his duty to serve his country and never told any of his communist cadres to commit crimes.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is warning the U.N.-Arab League envoy that proposed peace talks can only succeed if other countries end their support for rebel groups.

Assad was quoted on state-run television following a brief meeting Wednesday morning with Lakhdar Brahimi.  

The Boston Red Sox have won the Major League Baseball World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Wednesday night's game six to clinch their third championship in 10 years.