Poltrona Frau has unveiled the Archibald Sofa System, the latest evolution of its much-loved Archibald family, bringing larger proportions and flexible modularity to contemporary living spaces. Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, the new sofa system is complemented by the Baldwin table series, also designed by Massaud and produced by Ceccotti Collezioni.

The Archibald Sofa System builds on the original Archibald concept while giving users more freedom to create seating arrangements based on their space and lifestyle. The individual seating elements can be used on their own or combined in linear and corner configurations. They can also be rearranged over time as living requirements change.

The new system is part of Poltrona Frau’s “True Over Time” collection, which focuses on design that retains its character and meaning over the years. The Archibald story began with the original armchair introduced in 2009, which has since become one of the brand’s recognised contemporary pieces.

The sofa features seat and backrest structures made from birch plywood, supported by a black-painted steel chassis. Armrests and corner backrests use shaped polyurethane foam, while the legs are available in solid ash wood in Moka or Wengé finishes, as well as zamak in Gunmetal, Brunit or Titanium.

For comfort, the seat cushions are offered in Soft Comfort or Firm Comfort. Both options use feather-free padding designed to retain their shape. Upholstery choices include Pelle Frau leather and removable fabric, with different finishes and colours available.

Completing the seating system are the Baldwin tables by Ceccotti Collezioni. Their rounded profiles and sculptural shapes are designed to work naturally with the softer curves of the Archibald sofas. The tables can be positioned between or in front of the seating and arranged side by side or partially overlapped to create different compositions.

Baldwin tables feature ash wood frames in Moka or Wengé finishes and are available with glass, wood or marble tops. Marble options include Calacatta, Mediterraneo, Cervaiole, Arabescato and Cipollino, with chamfered corners.

Available in 28, 36 and 46 cm heights, the tables come in square and rectangular formats across different sizes, giving homeowners flexibility in creating functional and refined living spaces. Together, the Archibald Sofa System and Baldwin tables bring a balance of comfort, flexibility and sculptural design, offering a contemporary take on social living.

India has stepped up its rescue and relief efforts following the devastating floods in Nepal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) setting up a special control room to assist Indian nationals affected by the disaster.

The MEA said that 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu, who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, have been rescued in Nepal. The ministry is also working with the Nepalese authorities to trace and assist other Indians who remain stranded or out of contact.

According to the latest figures cited in the updates, the disaster has left at least 270 people dead and 826 missing in Nepal, while three people have died and 558 remain missing in Tibet. The floods have also caused major damage to infrastructure, with dozens of bridges destroyed and nearly 40 kilometres of roads damaged, making rescue operations more difficult.

MEA Says Upper Districts Remain the Main Challenge

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that connectivity with Kathmandu remains available, but reaching people in the upper districts affected by the floods is proving more difficult.

"We have continuous connectivity with Kathmandu, so people can arrive via that route; we shouldn't face any issues there. The real challenge lies in evacuating people from the upper districts where the tragedy struck. As of now, no code name has been given yet."

The ministry said that 288 Indian nationals remain out of contact. These include several groups stranded in different parts of Nepal.

The groups include 73 people working on the Trishuli-1 power project, along with two groups of 37 and 49 nationals from Tamil Nadu who travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels.

Another group includes 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who travelled with the help of Samrat Travels and are in Timure, Rasuwa district. The remaining groups include 61 Indian nationals from different states and 33 Indian nationals from Kerala.

"The first group of 73 people who are working on the Trishuli-1 power project. Then, two separate groups of 37 and 49 nationals from Tamil Nadu, who traveled for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels. There is a group of 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who traveled with the help of Samrat Travels in Timure, which is in Rasuwa district."

"Then, a group of 61 Indian nationals from different states and then a group of 33 Indian nationals from Kerala. These are five major groups who comprise, by and large, 288 people that we are talking about," he added.

India Sends Relief Support to Nepal

India has also continued its humanitarian assistance to Nepal as rescue teams work to reach affected communities. The second relief flight carrying 37.5 tons of HADR material, essential medicines and food packets has been sent to support relief operations.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with the Nepali government to help evacuate Indian nationals and support ongoing rescue efforts. Emergency helplines have also been activated for Indians seeking assistance or information.

The Indian Embassy in Nepal has issued the helpline numbers +977 985 131 6807 and +977 970 910 7500.

The Nepal Tourism Board has also shared emergency contacts, including the toll-free number 1234, hotline 1144 and Tourist Police number 9851289445.

With roads and bridges damaged across affected areas, rescue teams continue to face difficult conditions. India has said its response reflects the spirit of ‘Neighbourhood First’, while efforts continue to locate stranded and missing Indian nationals and provide support to Nepal during the crisis.

A Delhi man has allegedly left The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur without paying a bill of ₹5.74 lakh following a 10-day stay with his wife and two children.

According to a police complaint filed by the hotel, a travel agency booked a stay for Anurag Yadav through email on August 12. Yadav and his family stayed at the property from August 14 to 23, during which they reportedly used several hotel services, including lunch and dinner.

At the time of check-out on August 24, the family was presented with a bill of ₹5.74 lakh covering the stay and other services. However, Yadav allegedly declined to make the payment, saying that the travel agency would settle the amount on his behalf.

The travel agency, when contacted by the hotel, reportedly denied having any such payment arrangement with Yadav, according to the complaint filed by Ravindra Singh, liaisoning manager at The Oberoi Udaivilas.

Police have registered a case and started an investigation into the matter. They said Yadav works for a private company in Delhi. According to the police, the incident prima facie appears to involve an alleged fraud by the tourist in collusion with the travel agency. The investigation is currently underway.