As world population nears 7 billion, focus must be on people, not numbers by UN

As the world population approaches seven billion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that ending global poverty and inequality is the key to unleashing the great human potential for prosperity and peaceful coexistence, while protecting the planet and safeguarding the natural resources that sustain humanity.

"Later this year, a seven-billionth baby will be born into our world of complexity and contradiction," Mr. Ban said in a message to mark World Population Day, observed annually on 11 July.