Anticipation was building in Barcelona as the city geared up for the opening day of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Monday, with attendees keen to check out the latest cutting-edge items during an exciting time for the tech sector.
Themed 'Converge. Connect. Create,' the four-day event is expected to draw in over 100,000 visitors and feature more than 2,700 exhibitors from around the globe who will showcase innovations in artificial intelligence, 5G, and digital transformation.
As the world's premier mobile technology gathering, the event typically seeks to shine a spotlight on new gadgets and technologies, from robot butlers to self-driving cars, but many big brands are also looking to use this international platform to make their mark on the global stage.
Chinese tech firm Xiaomi got the party started early with the global launch of its Xiaomi 15 smartphone at the congress venue on Sunday, unveiling a product it hopes can challenge Apple's iPhone in terms of technology and performance.
The MWC event is also bringing together a number of key industry figures, with organizers inviting 48 speakers to deliver speeches and offer their insights on the fast-evolving technologies which are reshaping the world.
The excitement surrounding the congress is clear, with visitors expressing enthusiasm for advanced technologies, particularly AI.
"I'm really excited to visit Barcelona this year because a lot of AI components is booming up, and I really want to explore and see whether that is something which may be related to our daily life," said one visitor.
Tech buzz builds as Mobile World Congress gets underway in Barcelona
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
