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Hong Kong to host 2026 Interpol general assembly
HONG KONG: Hong Kong will host the 94th Interpol general assembly in 2026, bringing police chiefs and interior ministry officials from 196 member states to the city and underscoring its role in global law-enforcement cooperation.
It will be the first time the general assembly is held in the Hong Kong special administrative region and the third time in China, following Beijing-hosted editions in 1995 and 2017.
Xu Datong, vice minister of public security of China, said the choice of Hong Kong reflects confidence in the city and its policing institutions. The hosting rights were formally handed over at the close of the 93rd Interpol general assembly in Morocco last November.
Hong Kong police commissioner Chow Yat-ming said the decision highlighted Hong Kong’s position as an international “super connector” in global policing and reflected trust in the Hong Kong police force.
The Interpol general assembly is the organisation’s governing body, where senior law-enforcement leaders set policy priorities, approve budgets and coordinate responses to transnational crime, ranging from cyber fraud to financial and organised crime.
Hong Kong has long been active within Interpol as a sub-bureau under China, contributing expertise in cybercrime, financial crime and emerging security threats. Officers from the Hong Kong police force are regularly seconded to Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon and its Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore.
The force has also expanded cooperation with overseas agencies, particularly across Asean and Belt and Road countries, as it sharpens its response to cross-border fraud and financial crime. Its Frontier plus platform, launched in 2024, now links 13 jurisdictions for real-time intelligence sharing and fund interception.
Preparations for the 2026 assembly are under way, with Hong Kong authorities working closely with Interpol and China’s national central bureau to ensure smooth execution. Chow said the government aims to deliver a seamless experience for delegates and showcase the city’s openness, vitality and international character.
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IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers steps down; Rahul Bhatia steps in as interim boss
Leadership change follows flight disruption crisis and regulatory scrutiny
Pieter Elbers has exited the cockpit at IndiGo. The chief executive of India’s largest airline stepped down at the close of business on March 10, 2026, triggering a swift leadership reshuffle at the country’s dominant carrier.
Rahul Bhatia, managing director of IndiGo’s parent InterGlobe Aviation, will temporarily oversee the airline’s operations and management while the board considers its next leadership move.
Elbers, who joined IndiGo in 2022 after a long stint at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was brought in to steer the airline through its next phase of international expansion and operational scale. His departure comes after a turbulent few months for the carrier.
In late 2025, IndiGo faced sharp criticism after cancelling more than 500 flights on November 5 and another 650 on November 7, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across India during peak travel season. The disruptions triggered regulatory scrutiny, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issuing a show-cause notice and later imposing a Rs 22 crore penalty linked to crew roster failures.
A subsequent inquiry found the airline had over-optimised operations, relied heavily on crew repositioning and tail swaps, and failed to maintain adequate operational buffers under new pilot rest rules.
In an internal message to employees following Elbers’ resignation, Bhatia struck a reassuring tone. Referencing the popular film phrase “Main hoon na”, he told staff he would stand with them as the airline worked to restore operational stability after the crisis.
“What happened last December should never have taken place,” Bhatia wrote, acknowledging the strain the disruptions placed on frontline employees.
Despite the turbulence, IndiGo remains firmly in command of India’s skies. The airline continues to hold more than 60 per cent of the domestic market, far ahead of its rivals.
Financially, however, the ride has been bumpier. In the December quarter, IndiGo’s consolidated profit plunged 77.55 per cent year-on-year to Rs 549.8 crore, down from Rs 2,448.8 crore a year earlier, even as revenue from operations rose 6.2 per cent to Rs 23,471.9 crore.
Elbers leaves behind a carrier that still dominates India’s aviation market—but one that has recently been reminded how quickly turbulence can hit even the strongest flyers.
