Other handsets have been able to auto-blur image backgrounds for some time, but they typically rely on using two-lens cameras on the phones’ backs to create realistic effects.

Google said its innovation meant it could make more space for the battery and introduce front-facing speakers.

But it has dropped the headphone jack.

Instead of using a dedicated 3.5mm port, users will either need to use wireless headphones – Google is selling a pair called the Pixel Buds – or the USB-C charging socket.

At the launch of the original Pixel phones, the search firm had mocked Apple’s abandonment of the traditional socket and made a virtue of its opposite strategy.

A spokesman defended the U-turn saying Pixel’s engineers believed USB-C had “matured as a standard” over the past year.

About 2.8 million units of the original Pixel phones have shipped since their launch a year ago, according to research firm IDC, representing just 0.5% of the wider smartphone market.

Sales were in part limited by the firm’s inability to make enough of the devices to meet demand.

Google said it was producing the Pixel 2 and larger Pixel 2 XL models “in greater numbers”.

But one expert questioned whether it had done enough to pose a serious challenge to other Android phone-makers.

“Launching a device in a region such as Western Europe, requires support to 50-plus operators and 70-plus retailers,” said IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo.

“Google will have to put in place a massive sales and marketing organisation to be able to compete with Samsung and Huawei.”

The Pixel line-up is in part an effort to make sure consumers are always offered the latest version of Android. The phones are guaranteed the latest release as soon as Google makes it available, for at least three years – unlike other brands.

However, the tech giant was also keen to promote several unique features at its San Francisco launch.

The single-lens portrait mode photos were made possible by its adoption of a dual-pixel sensor – meaning each pixel can be used to both record the image and determine focus rather than just one or the other.

Some of Samsung’s handsets already feature the technology, but Google has built on it with proprietary software to make it possible to create a depth map for photos, which can be used to add special effects.

An added benefit of this approach is that the new phones’ front “selfie” cameras can also use portrait mode. And in the months to come, Google intends to make use of the depth information to let users add advanced augmented reality characters to their images.

Another new feature is the ability to summon the Google Assistant artificial intelligence helper by squeezing the handsets’ sides.

The firm suggested this made it easier to activate, adding that it had trained the software to only pay attention to deliberate squeezes.

In addition, the OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens now automatically show the name of a song if it is heard playing in the surrounding area.

The Shazam-like feature relies on a database of tens of thousands of tracks downloaded to the device in advance. This avoids seeking a match via the internet, which would have sapped the battery more quickly.

One of the new handsets was also demoed auto-translating a conversation between an English speaker and a Swedish speaker wearing the Pixel Buds to create a more seamless experience than is normal when using the firm’s Translate app,

The new phones are between 4% to 11% more expensive than their predecessors in the UK, depending on the configuration.

The 5in (12.7cm) version starts at £629 and the 6in (15.2cm) model at £799.

Last month, Google agreed to pay $1.1bn (£828m) to HTC to hire 2,000 of its engineers, many of whom had been involved in the new handsets’ creation.

One expert suggested the firm now faced a tricky balancing act.

“The challenge for Google is that if it starts prioritising new features and capabilities on its devices, it risks antagonising very important partners like Samsung,” commented Ben Wood from CCS Insight.

“And what is more important to the greater good of the Google empire? Is it the reach that Android has or is it Google’s desire to have its own hardware platform?”

Analysis:

Image copyrightGOOGLE

By Rory Cellan-Jones, Technology correspondent

One thing you have to say about Google’s hardware ambitions – it doesn’t give up when sales disappoint.

The Daydream VR headset promised to be a big step forward in mobile virtual reality but you’ll struggle to find anyone who has used one.

Google Home showcases the firm’s AI skills but arrived a long time after Amazon’s Echo and is still struggling to catch up.

The first Pixel had a great camera, won very positive reviews – and ended up with roughly 0.5% of global smartphone market share.

But now all three products are getting a refresh with Google making a bold statement about its ability to combine hardware and software to produce a great user experience – rather like that other little tech company with its range of very profitable iDevices.

It’s the Pixel 2 that is now Google’s flagship device, boasting features which the firm says you won’t yet see on other Android smartphones.

Sundar Pichai repeated his message about an AI-first world, and a new era where we interact more naturally with our devices. One example combines both – the squeeze feature which brings up the Google Assistant on your Pixel.

He believes his engineers lead the world in machine learning and that should translate into leadership in machines too.

Maybe – but first of all his company needs to up its game in two other key areas: marketing and manufacturing. It’s all very well building a smartphone that gets five star reviews but if you can’t make enough to meet demand you aren’t going to get very far.

Mini speaker

Google also unveiled other products at its launch including a smaller version of its Home smart speaker, and a larger edition designed for high-quality music playback.

Image copyrightGOOGLE

The Home Mini will cost $49 and accepts tap-based commands as well as responding to voices.

The $399 Home Max – which contains two subwoofers for superior bass – uses artificial intelligence software to take account of where it has been placed in a room and adjusts its sound balance to suit.

The Max is likely to compete with speakers from Sonos – which had announced hours earlier that it would add Google Assistant to its latest speaker in 2018.

One expert said the Mini might appeal to those wanting multiple smart speakers in their home, as well as price-conscious under-25s.

Image copyrightGOOGLE

“Google has been on the back foot at competing with Amazon,” said Adam Simon from the consultancy Context.

“The Home came after Amazon’s Echo, it didn’t have the same range of smart home partners or types of device available and now Google is trying to catch up.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the event was Google Clips, a small standalone camera that uses machine learning to recognise interesting scenes and familiar faces to record.

The device is designed to be clipped to clothes or other objects and only sends the videos and photos to a smartphone when commanded.

Image copyrightGOOGLE

GoPro’s stock tumbled when it was unveiled, but consumers may struggle to understand the need for the $249 gadget.

A new high-end Chrome OS-based laptop called the Pixelbook was also unveiled, which has the Google Assistant built in, an optional stylus. and can run Android apps.

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Government has been criticized for the rising inflation rate, high budget deficit, tax evasion, corruption in public institutions and other challenges facing the country.

But speaking at the Global Leadership Training forum, President Mahama was optimistic Ghana’s economy will overcome its current challenges.

According to him, “a new oil bill which will increase Ghana’s oil production from 110,000 barrels to almost 200,000 barrels is coming on the stream”

This, he said, will create  additional revenue for the country.

“There are several other things, cocoa prices are recovering fortunately, gold is slugging, but we believe that as long as it is not falling further, we can hold production at that level and hope that it recovers in the years going forward,” the President added.

“Things are looking up and we of course want to climb out of this faster than we would. Of course God is in control, and I know that he will make a way for us,”the President added.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“I am looking for a time when our leaders will engage with people in the private sector such as the CSOs  to figure out some of the things they can do to fix Ghana’s problems,”Dr. Ansah proposed.

Government has been criticized for  its failure to halt the depreciation of the cedi, high inflation rate, rising budget deficit and increased cost of borrowing and other economic challenges facing the country.

A group of protesters on Tuesday took to the streets to demonstrate against what they describe as unfavourable economic conditions in the country.

The group also threatened to stage more demonstrations if government fails to address the current challenges facing the country.

Inflation currently stands at 14.7 percent, representing the highest rate since Feburary 2010.

An economist, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia earlier this year, described Ghana’s economy as a crisis situation.

According to him, Ghana must ask the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for a bailout for the ailing economy.

Speaking on Citi FM’s News Analysis Programme, The Big Issue, Dr Esi Ansah described Tuesday’s protest as  “the beginning of just an awakening of citizens.”.

She decried the state of affairs in the country saying “we [Ghana] have fuel shortages, we don’t have running water, the currency has depreciated so quickly, and there is a lot of helplessness and despondency.”

According to her, though the country’s challenges are not new, it will make a big difference if government takes immediate steps to address the problems.“These challenges are not new, but if you were in an era that you felt that something was being done, that will make a difference.”

Dr. Ansah further  attributed the surge in corrupt practices in the country to a system failure. “The corruption we see is not about individuals who are greedy but a system failure.”

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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He said the fiscal consolidation policy, which is a move to find lasting solutions to the current challenges, needs concerted efforts from all development partners, adding that it is therefore not out of place to seek technical and financial support from them.

President Mahama made the call when he received six new envoys who are beginning their duty tour of the country.

The envoys are Mr Gerhard Brugger, Swiss Ambassador, Mr Arafan Kabine Kaban, Guinean Ambassador and Mr Jon Benjamin, British High Commissioner.

The rest are; Mr Joseph Habineza, Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria and Ghana, Dr Right Honourable Lockwood Smith, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ghana and Professor Alejandro Israel Correa Ortega, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ambassador to Benin and Ghana.

President Mahama said Ghana would collaborate with Switzerland to reduce the housing deficit.

He said government would also draw on its international relationships to strengthen the Ghana Standards Authority to improve the quality of made in Ghana goods and to ensure that the intellectual property law is effectively implemented.

President Mahama, who also received the United Kingdom High Commissioner, commended the British government for the continuous support to Ghana through the Department for International Development, especially the assistance to the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme.

He appealed to Britain to take a look at Ghana’s home grown fiscal consolidation policy and find out where it could offer the necessary support for development.

On Guinea, President Mahama who traced the historical ties of the two countries to the days of former President Kwame Nkrumah said Ghana had a comparative advantage in the production of energy, and her success would make her a net exporter of the commodity to neighbouring countries, including Guinea.

President Mahama commended the people of Rwanda for establishing the national dialogue, which would seek to unite and accelerate the socio-economic development of the country.

With New Zealand, President Mahama said his administration would tap the country’s knowledge in the areas of agriculture and tourism to harness her potentials and increase the income levels of the country.

He said New Zealand had expertise in renewable energy, which Ghana would tap to find alternative measures to the hydro and thermal plants that are being used.

President Mahama commended Venezuela for offering scholarships for students to study in food science and gave the assurance that Ghana would strengthen relations in political consultations that would enhance mutual benefits.

Swiss Ambassador Gerhard Brugger commended Ghana for good governance and the placement of certain legal frameworks that would subsequently achieve development goals.

He promised to continue with all the bilateral relations and projects that were initiated by his predecessor.

Guinean Ambassador Kaba presented a letter of invitation from his President calling on President Mahama to come for a state visit at his own convenience.

Mr Benjamin, British High Commissioner, said Ghana and the United Kingdom had shared values of democracy, good governance, rule of law and respect of human rights and would continue to operate on those levels during his duty tour of the country.

The Rwandan, New Zealand and Venezuelan Ambassadors also indicated their commitment to work closely with Ghana to achieve their targets in the country.

Source: GNA

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According to him ”we [Ghana] have been living beyond our means and [we] must borrow from the domestic and external markets to finance the deficits including soverigning bond issues in capital market”.

In a lecture delivered on Tuesday at the Distinguished Speaker Series organised by the Central University College in Accra, Prof. Botchwey said Ghana cannot afford to live beyond its means because the cedi is not a strong currency to support over spending.

He said contries like the United States and Britain can get away with living above it means because their currencies are ”a good store of value”.

He noted that the consequence of government’s over-spending has led to our public indebtedness reaching the limits of our external viability.

”As a nation we must understand that borrowing from any source; whether from the financial markets, through bond issues or treasury bills does carry its own conditions…,” he said.

According to the NDC stalwart it is the interest of Ghana to cut down cost and spend within its budget.

”Borrowing from international markets thus carry its own conditions and are not markedly different from the conditions from borrowing from IMF,” he warned.

”The country can decide that we will not go to IMF for funds; we can decide that instead of medium term drawings from the IMF at lower cost, we will borrow from international markets at greater costs and short tenure and with pretty much the same conditions,” he added.

He said it does not matter which of the choices we make, when we do not have clearly spelt out policies which would convince our patners that we are able to pay for the loans we are taking then it would even be difficult for the creditors to give out the loans in the first place.

”Let us be clear, nothing comes free,” he noted.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He cited Ghana’s attainment of a middle income status and the world economic meltdown as major reasons why most of the “big time players in the donor community” would either withdraw their support completely or cut down their support by 50 per cent.

Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko, who stated this during an interaction with the media in Wa, said the country must start exploring possible ways of funding its own organizations to overcome the situation.

The STAR-Ghana Programme Manager suggested the establishment of a National Endowment Fund where all Ghanaians would contribute into, to finance Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to enable it to continue with the good work of empowering rural communities.

He however underscored the need for CSOs to develop the attitude of being more accountable to their people rather than their donors, as had always being the case.

This, according to him would erase the perception that CSOs were serving more of their interests than the needs of the rural poor communities.

Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko noted that to date, STAR-Ghana had committed approximately 36 million dollars to support projects targeted at promoting responsiveness and accountability in the country.

Over 150 civil society projects are being funded in the programme’s priority areas of health, education, oil and gas, access to justice and democratic governance.

STAR-Ghana is also supporting the Parliament of Ghana to enhance its capacity to fulfil its mandate, particularly, the exercise of its oversight role.

Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko again disclosed that STAR-Ghana supported 24 media organizations with grants to the tune of approximately 2.5 million dollars to develop and implement programmes aimed at advocating for more inclusive access to quality public services for all Ghanaians and to strengthen democratic governance in the country.

He announced that the phase one of STAR-Ghana programme would come to an end in May 2015, and that, they have begun the process of taking stock and documenting the lessons, ahead of the phase two.

He said the visit to the Upper West Region was to afford them the opportunity “to hear from our partners, what had worked and what had not to enable us to see how best we could consolidate the gains for the future.”

Source: GNA

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The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics also revised down economic growth in the last three months of 2013, to 0.4%.

The sluggish growth figures come just before the start of the World Cup and presidential elections in October.

President Dilma Rousseff, who is seeking re-election, has said the football event will spur growth.

But high inflation and low business investment have put a damper on the expected lift from government investment in projects leading up to the sporting event.

This has spurred protests from Brazilians angry over the expense of the World Cup and the lack of trickle-down growth.

Business investment fell 2.1% in the first three months of 2014, the biggest decline in two years.

“I couldn’t find anything positive at all in the [data],” said Bruno Rovai at Barclays.

Brazil, which is Latin America’s biggest economy and the world’s seventh largest, has suffered from stubbornly high inflation, which remains at 6%, above the central bank’s target.

On Wednesday, the central bank kept its key interest rate at 11% in an effort to combat rising prices.

Source: BBC

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Professor Botchwey will speak on the topic “State of the Nation’s Political Economy and the Role of Civil Society” during the Distinguished Speaker series organized by the Central University College.

The eminent lawyer and economist will examine the relationship between the economy, corruption and civil society engagements, and offer an opinion on the Economic Partnership Agreement.

The Distinguish Speaker Series which is organized by the Central University College provides a platform for distinguished individuals in academia and public life to share knowledge with students, faculty and the general public on issues of national and international significance.

The maiden lecture in the series was given in November last year by Professor Adigun Agbaje of University of Ibadan, Nigeria on Electoral Politics in Africa, followed by Dr Mahamadu Bawumia who in March this year shared opinions on Restoring the Value of the Cedi.

Dr Botchwey’s lecture will be the third in the series.

By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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She said: “The path and solution to the economic difficulties of our country is the election of a CPP government for an implementation of an economic development programme that is inspired and defined by our struggle for political and economic freedom to fulfill our mission in history.”

In an open letter to Ghanaians, Ms Nkrumah explained that the party’s participation in the just ended National Economic Forum revealed that “the conception of the Forum as building consensus on economic development policy issues was however, not sufficiently indicative of an act in good faith.”

According to her, it became apparent that there are irreconcilable economic development policy differences between the CPP “and the direction of deliberations by the concept note of the National Economic Forum.”

The CPP chairperson acknowledged that the conditions that necessitated the National Economic Forum “after 32 years of implementation of policies of structural adjustments and fiscal austerity vindicates the alternative Nkrumaist development policy that is informed by our history of slavery and colonialism and driven by a transformation of the colonial economy or decolonisation.”

She therefore urged Ghanaians to vote the CPP into power in 2016 to continue in the ideals of her father, Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

 Below is the full statement

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF GHANA – BY SAMIA YABA NKRUMAH, CHAIR OF CPP

Fellow citizens, I write to you today on behalf of my Party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to share with you the position of the CPP on the National Economic Forum (NEF) called by the ruling National Democratic Congress.

The purpose and objective of the Forum according to the ruling government was to discuss and develop a national consensus on policy actions that will address the current economic and financial difficulties that threaten a social upheaval arising from widespread unemployment and financial hardships of our people.

Fellow citizens I am glad to say that our Party honoured the invitation because we deemed it an honourable duty to respond to the call of our nation and respect the constitutional institutions of the state including the Presidency.

The conception of the Forum as building consensus on economic development policy issues was however, not sufficiently indicative of an act in good faith.

The invitation from the Government from the onset did not disclose the position of the Party on underlying pertinent issues that could possibly vitiate the purpose and usefulness of the forum.

The Government neither disclosed the status of its Manifesto and Better Ghana Agenda in relation to the National Economic Forum to give a firm assurance of a commitment to an implementation of its outcomes. Our option in the circumstances was to reduce the level of our participation in the forum to an observer status.

The concept note of the Forum was another disincentive to participate in the discussions of the Forum. It was our hope the forum will provide the opportunity to review the foundation and direction of our development policy over the last thirty (30) years which has resulted in jobless economic growth and massive youth unemployment.

The note however revealed a commitment to the same neo-liberal economic development policy framework that has imposed severe hardship on our people in pursuit of macroeconomic stability by severe austerity measures.

Our Party’s Nkrumaist economic development policy approach of the intervention of government to promote investments in the human and material resources of our nation for the production of goods and services to satisfy our needs and export is unalterably opposed to this neo-liberal economic development policy of wage freeze, retrenchment and redeployment of labour, heavy taxation and high interest rates.

These are irreconcilable economic development policy differences between our party and the direction of deliberations by the concept note of the National Economic Forum.

Indeed the conditions that necessitated the National Economic Forum after thirty two years of implementation of policies of structural adjustments and fiscal austerity vindicates the alternative Nkrumaist development policy that is informed by our history of slavery and colonialism and driven by a transformation of the colonial economy or decolonisation

We therefore renew our unwavering dedication and commitment to the responsibility of colonial freedom to demonstrate the capability of our people to develop and manage our economy for prosperity.

Fellow citizens, the path and solution to the economic difficulties of our country is the election of a CPP government for an implementation of an economic development programme that is inspired and defined by our struggle for political and economic freedom to fulfill our mission in history.

Samia Yaba Nkrumah

CPP National Chairperson and Leader

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan

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He disclosed that he was out of the country when the NPP made the decision but “if they had sought my opinion, I would have said don’t do this. This is the third time we are doing it [boycotting a national event] and it is not good.”

The NPP on Monday announced its decision to boycott the National Economic Forum being organized by government to find solutions to Ghana’s current economic crisis.

They described the Forum as a PR gimmick and propaganda tool being used by government to delude the populace of the true state of the Ghanaian economy.

Nonetheless, stakeholders who were invited to the Forum honoured the invitation with the exception of the NPP.

The Forum started on Tuesday and was opened by the President John Mahama who in his open remarks condemned the posturing of the NPP.

In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Pianim who is the only NPP member at the Forum said it is time for Ghanaians to “put our political colours aside and act as Ghanaians.”

“When you go and watch Kotoko and Hearts, do you ask whether your party people are coming? No. I think it is sad and I think maybe it was a mistake”

He complained that politics in Ghana is too focused on the next election but “we need to get to a stage where once we elect a party into power, at least for three years, there should be no politics.”

He added that nine months to the next general elections, “we can do politics.”

The NPP stalwart maintained that his suggestion is feasible because the concentration on political issues to the detriment of national issues is hurting the economic fortunes of the country.

By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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