either, as the rumours say, go on, cancel euston, cancel to manchester, but you will be turning your back on an opportunity to level up, a once in a generation opportunity. the chancellor refuses to speculate on the speculation that is overshadowing the conservative party conference. but the rumour in manchester is that the northern leg of h52 which ends, yes in manchester, is being cancelled. we will get reaction tonight from the director of the northern also tonight, donald trump in court in new york, attacking the very man who sits as judge and jury over his case. "just so you know, said trump, my financial statements are phenomenal." the one thing i know about said the judge "is the legal definition of fraud".

and we will talk about that medical breakthrough for malaria. a second vaccine shown to be 80% effective. a lifeline for the child that dies every minute from the mosquito borne disease. good evening. after weeks of speculation and years of indecision about the uk's biggest infrastructure project, it would appear the birmingham to manchester leg of fast speed rail link hs2 is finally be coming off the rails. there are widespread reports today that a decision has already been made to scrap the northern branch of the line, and that a portion of that money saved will be invested in other transport projects. we are told the announcement will come on wednesday in the prime minister's speech to the conservative party conference, though number ten still insists a final decision is yet be be taken. why the government would allow such speculation to overshadow its annual party conference, and one they have staged in manchester of all places, is a bit of a headscratcher. this afternoon, the conservative mayor of the west midlands, andy street, held an impromptu press

conference at the doors to the conference, warning the prime minister he will be wasting a "once—in—a—generation opportunity to level up". the choice, very stark — either as the rumours say, cancel houston, cancel to manchester, but you will be turning your back on an opportunity to level up, a once—in—a—generation opportunity. you will indeed be damaging our international reputation as a place to invest. or the alternative is to work with us, engage with us, fully embrace the private sector, here out what they could do to find a way that we can still build this national piece of infrastructure in a way in which we can afford and at a cost which we're all comfortable with. director of the northern powerhouse partnership henri murison. it must be a bit of a peculiar

atmosphere there. aren't party activists bang to ask why a decision like this has been left over from the party conference in manchester? i agree, christian. the party conference in manchester? iagree, christian. it the party conference in manchester? i agree, christian. it is a strange political management strategy and also the prime minister is also committed, historically, to building northern powerhouse across the pennines. but if you take out hsz, you leave the heart, 30 month gap in the middle of that northern powerhouse rail line and that will require, as the times reported a week ago today, an extra 15 billion taken from the h52 budget and added to the northern powerhouse rail budget, so this potential sort of windfall of people like transport priorities does not equate to very much. and as last week, when he spoke to colleagues across the bbc

regions, including the bbc little editor in yorkshire that actually buses and potholes where his priorities, as chancellor he cut the money on potholes and in south yorkshire, one of the areas he was discussing with a particular college from the bbc, the recent round of bus investments or not an additional penny for south yorkshire so i am unsure anyone is believing that if we get promised people's priorities, any of the people will ever see any the money. so they will lose northern powerhouse rail commands of the views —— losing hs2. northern powerhouse rail commands of the views -- losing h52._ the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that — the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that what _ the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that what that _ the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that what that will - the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that what that will do - the views -- losing h52. goodness knows that what that will do for . knows that what that will do for trusting the government in the know. let's pick up one of the issues the chancellor turned two today. he seemed to be suggesting that it is much more expensive to run an infrastructure project like this in the uk than it is in france. why is it cheaper for the french to build a project like this rather than the uk? ,, ., project like this rather than the

uk? g , project like this rather than the uk? g y ., a, uk? so, jeremy quoted the fact that it is approximately _ uk? so, jeremy quoted the fact that it is approximately ten _ uk? so, jeremy quoted the fact that it is approximately ten times - uk? so, jeremy quoted the fact that it is approximately ten times more l it is approximately ten times more expensive in the uk. 0ne it is approximately ten times more expensive in the uk. one of the reasons for that is that the when the french go past a village or town, they don't put the high—speed line in a tunnel. in order to keep tory activists and members happy, many of the local councils, in places like cheshire and ambition when they lost by election to the lib dems, largely on local issues related to hs2, they gave away tunnels and cuttings. 0n the journey from west london, from wormwood scrubs up to birmingham, if that is all that is built, you basically won't see daylight, and the challenge of that is guess how much tunnel costs more than railway, it is ten times more expensive so funny enough if you build layers of tunnels you don't need, to keep your own boat and mps happy, it cost ten times more than building a normal railway so i don't know who is to blame, is in the uk infrastructure sector who have sought to deliver this course and have come together with andy street to start thinking

about how to reduce the cost or is it the prime minister's colleagues in government, is it himself as chief secretary and chancellor, was he necessarily focused on keeping the costs down? was he generally doing enough to tackle inflation? because a lot of the change in prices because of inflation and that is one of the prime minister's priorities. he has allowed vision to get out of control and should take response vanity for that. fine get out of control and should take response vanity for that.— get out of control and should take response vanity for that. one of the other argument _ response vanity for that. one of the other argument is _ response vanity for that. one of the other argument is that _ response vanity for that. one of the other argument is that the - response vanity for that. one of the other argument is that the business case has changed, which again is odd because it when i speak to when i go to the north—west says they desperately need this northern leg of the hs2 network. that the business case has shifted such that the investment would be wasted. what would you say about the message it sends out to international investors who might be looking at the uk? well, inward investment here to the northern england where i am standing and you know well has actually gone up and you know well has actually gone up significantly in the last ten

years, comparing the last five years to the previous ones, we've overtaken london in terms of direct foreign investment. and that was largely because of the northern powerhouse vision that 0sborne had committed connect across the pennines. take that line away and that will undermine confidence in investing here in manchester, the times reported this morning that actually planning applications and the proximity of the stations in the depot had gone up 400%, compared the rest of the west midlands and research they had seen. so, when you look at the evidence, there clearly is an economic benefit associated with hsz, is an economic benefit associated with hs2, there have been trading of prices and cost but fundamentally this government hasn't managed this project particularly well. they have at the price up to keep their own members and constituency mps happy, they have put the price up byjust half a billion in the last few months with a rishi sunak premium, so by delaying elsewhere costs and putting up the expenditure, she

thinks it is financially literate, i agree with her, the government is responsible for the increasing cost of this railway, largely. and international markets have a role to play as well. the government need to take responsibility for that and rather than telling us in all that we need to make do with filling in some potholes they would already fill in, it is time to deliver hs2 in full, northern powerhouse rail in full, and work with andy street, work with sadiq khan, work with mayors here in the north to deliver here in the country, to raise wages here in the country, to raise wages here in the north, because he cut spending on infrastructure, or you are doing is saying it is ok in the north for people to earn eight grand lesbian people in the south. it is for us to have —— earn eight grand less than people in the south. what i want to do is make this part of the country more prosperous. rishi sunak was to manage his own medical future, he was to minimise damage in

the general election, he was to keep people happy. the challenge is doing the big things, as gordon brown has said, as david cameron has said, along with george osborne, as theresa may and borisjohnson has said, not a group of people that agree with very much, this is in the national interest, this prime minister more worried about running away from borisjohnson's legacy, on hsz mpr, he away from borisjohnson's legacy, on hs2 mpr, he is trying to distance himself. that is not a freddy rash credible strategy, that is —— that is not a credible strategy, that is rishi sunak being weak. he hasn't got anything to put it in his place. he either has to only record of the government he was a key part of in the treasury or he needs to accept the treasury or he needs to accept the fact that he has already lost the fact that he has already lost the next general election, that he is simply out of touch with what people here in the north on't, with a red wool... people here in the north on't, with a red wool- - -_ people here in the north on't, with a red wool... very quickly, because i'm out a red wool. .. very quickly, because i'm out of— a red wool... very quickly, because

i'm out of time. _ a red wool. .. very quickly, because i'm out of time. if— a red wool... very quickly, because i'm out of time. if they _ a red wool... very quickly, because i'm out of time. if they scrap - a red wool... very quickly, because i'm out of time. if they scrap it - i'm out of time. if they scrap it tomorrow, could it be picked up and could labour get behind it and rebuild it? i could labour get behind it and rebuild it?— rebuild it? i think that many business — rebuild it? i think that many business people _ rebuild it? i think that many business people are - rebuild it? i think that many business people are already| rebuild it? i think that many - business people are already thinking who is going to be running the country in six months because as long as the legislation is in the commons, part of the hs2 bill, and as you rightly say, will power and authority train from this prime minister, will businesses in liverpool talk to people they think they will be in government and almost ignore the sideshow of someone who may well be looking for his people t5 if he miss judges they mood of the public and the reality of economics. i mood of the public and the reality of economics.— mood of the public and the reality of economics. i can tell how angry ou are. of economics. i can tell how angry you are- i — of economics. i can tell how angry you are. i understand _ of economics. i can tell how angry you are. i understand there - of economics. i can tell how angry you are. i understand there are i of economics. i can tell how angry you are. i understand there are a | you are. i understand there are a lot of supporters up there. i ieei lot of supporters up there. i feel very disappointed _ lot of supporters up there. i feel very disappointed in _ lot of supporters up there. i feel very disappointed in him. - lot of supporters up there. i feel| very disappointed in him. always aood to very disappointed in him. always good to talk _ very disappointed in him. always good to talk to _ very disappointed in him. always good to talk to you, _ very disappointed in him. always good to talk to you, thank- very disappointed in him. always good to talk to you, thank you i very disappointed in him. always | good to talk to you, thank you for coming on the programme. it might explain in part why the chancellorjeremy hunt flew to manchester this week rather

than risking it with the trains. though whether it is really the 30 minute journey conservative lord frost claims it to be, will be disputed. as will his suggestion that the best way to link london with manchester is to put on more flights. but the chancellors ducked every question about hs2 preferring instead to focus on the key announcements he had travelled to manchester to make, among them a rise in the national living wage to 11 pounds from next april. "a pay rise for nearly two million workers". new penalties for those on benefits, who are not actively seeking work, a cut by a fifth to the numbers in the civil service, and as expected he ruled out any sizeable tax giveaway, until inflation is brought back under control. we promised in our manifesto to raise the national living wage to two thirds of median income, ending low pay in this country. at the moment, it's £10.42 an hour, and we're waiting for the low pay commission to tell us next year's recommendation. but i confirmed today, whatever that recommendation, we'll increase the national living wage to at least

£11 an hour next year. that's a pay rise for 2 million workers, and the wages of the lowest paid, over £9,000 higher than they were in 2010, because if you work hard, the conservative government will always have your back. let's go to ian watson in manchester, ijust let's go to ian watson in manchester, i just wanted let's go to ian watson in manchester, ijust wanted to make sure he was there. it was a great switchover. you are probably listening to henry from the northern powerhouse partnership who has invested so much time on hs2, i think when activists will be questioning why the conservative party have let this over shadow the chancellor makes peter dain the rest of the conference. that chancellor makes peter dain the rest of the conference.— of the conference. that is the ruestion of the conference. that is the question and _ of the conference. that is the question and interestingly - of the conference. that is the question and interestingly it i of the conference. that is the | question and interestingly it is of the conference. that is the i question and interestingly it is a question and interestingly it is a question to be asked in some parts of government as well because i spoke to some in government who is

pretty much convinced that the northern part of hs2, that leg between birmingham and manchester, will be cancelled. and sadly what he and others were campaigning for behind—the—scenes last week was for the announcement to be made last week. they knew there was no ideal time to make this announcement. perhaps i could wait until the autumn statement next month but given that the conferences going to be in manchester, they were pushing for rishi sunak to make their decision last week and at least it might have been a story that lasted one day rather than clouding the entire conference. but of course didn't happen and downing street are still insisting that no final decision been made. now there seems to be three camps, those who would be delighted if hs2 was cancelled, another lot who are basically saying just give us certainty, we just need to know, cancelled or otherwise, and they are pressing the prime minister to make his own views there this week in manchester, the third group

who are basically filling the vacuum by arguing all over again that hs2 should go all the way to manchester. it means there is even coverage for a labour mayor of greater manchester at a conservative conference, he was speaking at a fringe meeting alongside conservatives, they clash made a few hours ago by the conservative mayor and the west midlands, andy street, he said this was a once in a generation opportunity to level up, and opportunity to level up, and opportunity the prime minister might miss. thereby not making a decision, the voices do feel that vacuum and thatis the voices do feel that vacuum and that is making it uncomfortable for number 10 downing street. number10 downing street. elsewhere, the former prime _ number10 downing street. elsewhere, the former prime minister— number10 downing street. elsewhere, the former prime minister liz _ number10 downing street. elsewhere, the former prime minister liz truss i the former prime minister liz truss at a fringe event today, urging the chancellor to cut taxes before the next election, that the chancellor is adamant that cannot be done until inflation is under control. that is adamant that cannot be done until inflation is under control.— inflation is under control. that is absolutely _ inflation is under control. that is absolutely right, _ inflation is under control. that is absolutely right, yes, _ inflation is under control. that is absolutely right, yes, he - inflation is under control. that is absolutely right, yes, he had i inflation is under control. that is absolutely right, yes, he had a l absolutely right, yes, he had a little bit of a barb in his speech to liz truss and her supporters and saying it was very easy to argue for

tax cuts, far more difficult to deliver them and his argument was, of course, that you will make people better off, with a three or 4p cut in tax if you can get inflation down, if the government can deliver on his promise to halve inflation by the end of the year, he said it'll already down 40% remains peak, but the mood is interesting result —— because obviously his speech was relatively well received in the conference hall but it was the membership, the they backed liz truss and not rishi sunak to be —— to be conservative leader, and there were queues around the block trying to get into her oversubscribed meeting today, so there is a big constituency for tax cuts. jeremy hunt says it cannot deliver them now, i would still be a bit surprised if we didn't pull attacks rabbit out of the hat in the budget next year ahead of the general election. , ., , election. indeed so, we will see what happens — election. indeed so, we will see what happens with _ election. indeed so, we will see what happens with inflation i election. indeed so, we will see what happens with inflation and| election. indeed so, we will see i what happens with inflation and that spring budget, ian watson, thank you

for your time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. thames valley police confirm they're investigating "harassment and stalking" allegations against the comedian russell brand made by a woman living in the area. it follows a joint investigation by the sunday times, the times and channel 4's dispatches, in which four women accused mr brand of sexual assaults and rape. he denies the claims. a police investigation into emad al swealmeen, who detonated a bomb outside liverpool women's hospital in november 2021, found he had a grievance against the state forfailing to accept his asylum claim. that combined with mental ill health is likely to have led him to carry out the attack. emad al swealmeen was killed in the blast, which injured one other person. a bbc tv presenter says her eyesight has been saved by a routine check—up. injune, bbc wales' lucy 0wen told her optician she had noticed white flashes in her right eye. he said her retina was in

the process of detaching and booked her in for an emergency operation. her vision returned and she has resumed presenting. you're live with bbc news. "it is the single greatest witch hunt of all time" — donald trump, on his way into a new york court room today for the opening of a civilfraud case in which he could lose $250 million. he and his two sons are accused of inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance terms. while deflating the value of those same assets to avoid tax. its a tale that goes to the very heart of who donald trump is, and what he cares about most. why else did he fly back from iowa last night to appear in person. outside the court he lambasted the "rogue judge" who holds his fate in his hands. and the new york attorney general he said is a "racist" and a "horrow show".

so, very simply put, it is a witch hunt, it is a disgrace, we have a corrupt attorney general in the state, you see how she does, this trial was railroaded as tract, this trial was railroaded as tract, this trial could have been brought years ago but they waited until i was right in the middle of my campaign, the same with other trials, all run by doj which is corrupt in washington. everything goes through them. they are all corrupt people. frankly, our country is corrupt and thatis frankly, our country is corrupt and that is one of the reasons i am running, we are going to straighten it out. �* ., ~' running, we are going to straighten it out. �* ., ~ ., ., it out. and it went on like that for several minutes. _ let's speak to richard painter, who was the chief white house ethics lawyer for president george w bush and is now a law professor at the university of minnesota. it seemed to me on this afternoon that donald trump was trying to re—litigate what has already been decided, but that is not what this trial is about, is it? this decided, but that is not what this trial is about, is it?— trial is about, is it? this trial is about fraud, _ trial is about, is it? this trial is about fraud, bank _

trial is about, is it? this trial is about fraud, bank fraud - trial is about, is it? this trial is about fraud, bank fraud and i about fraud, bank fraud and insurance fraud. hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fraud. and others have done this as well but i have also been prosecuted for it, where you inflate your assets for obtaining bank loans and insurance and indeed the financial collapse of 2008 was caused by those who would seek to inflate real estate for the purpose of securing loans. this is a very serious type of fraud in the new york attorney general is pursuing it, no, the new york attorney general does not report to the united states department ofjustice, he does not know what he's talking about. this is the attorney general who could have pursued this as a criminal case, the manhattan attorney was almost bringing charges and they decided to bring it as civil charges when they need proof of fraud by clear and convincing evidence, not a very high standard of beyond

reasonable doubt for a criminal trial, but thejudge has ruled there was fraud. 0f trial, but thejudge has ruled there was fraud. of course he's going to say thejudges corrupt, was fraud. of course he's going to say the judges corrupt, that is what he says every time a judge rules against him, and he is saying similar things about the judge presiding over his criminal trial who is an african—american woman. this goes on and on with donald trump. he accuses the prosecutors and the judges are trump. he accuses the prosecutors and thejudges are being corrupt trump. he accuses the prosecutors and the judges are being corrupt and thinks that is going to get him out of trouble. ~ ., ., thinks that is going to get him out of trouble. ~ . . ., , ., ., , of trouble. what a 'udge has already decided is that i of trouble. what a 'udge has already decided is that he i of trouble. what a judge has already decided is that he is _ of trouble. what a judge has already decided is that he is cancelling i decided is that he is cancelling donald trump of mac business licenses in new york, had serious is that to the trump organisation? it means they will have to sell their businesses to someone who is licensed to do business in new york, sell the trump tower and the other buildings, because new york state has the right to tell people who commit fraud that they are not allowed to be a business in the state of new york. and this is a decision by thejudge state of new york. and this is a decision by the judge that donald trump has committed fraud, if donald trump has committed fraud, if donald

trump appealed that decision in the new york courts and it is overturned, he can do business in new york but until then it looks like he will have to think about selling his businesses in new york state. in selling his businesses in new york state. , ., ., ., state. in terms of the agenda, i think this _ state. in terms of the agenda, i think this is — state. in terms of the agenda, i think this is down _ state. in terms of the agenda, i think this is down for _ state. in terms of the agenda, i think this is down for three i state. in terms of the agenda, i i think this is down for three months, the civil case, how does that work for the other trials, the other four cases he is actually appearing in? and what is his schedule now looking like? ., ,�*, and what is his schedule now looking like? ., ,. like? donald trump's scheduling court, he like? donald trump's scheduling court. he has — like? donald trump's scheduling court, he has criminal— like? donald trump's scheduling court, he has criminal cases, i like? donald trump's scheduling | court, he has criminal cases, and criminal case in new york, by the manhattan district attorney for falsification of business records to conceal the stormy daniels payouts but that is is probably least serious case, he has a federal case in florida coming up in a string for theft of classified documents and obstruction ofjustice and obstruction ofjustice and obstruction ofjustice and obstruction of an investigation. another federal case with the district of columbia for a violation of several federal conspiracy

statuettes in connection with his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and the events of january six, and yet another case in county georgia for violation of georgia but that racketeering statute with connection with overturning the election results in georgia when he was calling the secretary of state in georgia and telling him to come up in georgia and telling him to come up with 11,000 buyers, so these are for criminal indictments, all these trials are expected to happen in 2024, the first half of 2024, so donald trump is going to have a very busy time in court.— busy time in court. indeed so. nice to see you. — busy time in court. indeed so. nice to see you, thank— busy time in court. indeed so. nice to see you, thank you _ busy time in court. indeed so. nice to see you, thank you very - busy time in court. indeed so. nice to see you, thank you very much. l malaria has been a really tricky target for the world vaccine's makers. the parasites that cause the disease are prone to mutations that allow them to develop resistance to some existing treatments. but now there is a second vaccine, that in phase 3 trial was 75% effective. the vaccine was tested in four african countries among 4,800 children. and if it is funded properly then it could be on the market by mid 2024.

which is big news. in the most recent figures from the who there were 619 thousand malaria deaths in 2021. that year, 247 million new cases of malaria. 95% of them were in africa(ani)children under 5 — are the most vulnerable group. professor peter hotez is dean for the national school of tropical medicine co—director texas children's hospital center of vaccine development baylor college of medicine. hejoins me now live from houston, texas. how significant do you think this is? here is why it is so significant, as mentioned, this is the second malaria vaccine, the first was also quite good, in fact there are a lot of similarities between the first in a second. the problem in the first is it has been harder to produce at scale. it was

first licensed in 2021, only about 1.8 million doses have been delivered. his next beige —— version, 2.0, came out of research from oxford university, looks like it could be scaled around 100 million doses per year. is it could be scaled around 100 million doses per year. is there the fundin: to million doses per year. is there the funding to get _ million doses per year. is there the funding to get it — million doses per year. is there the funding to get it out _ million doses per year. is there the funding to get it out there - million doses per year. is there the funding to get it out there at i funding to get it out there at scale? ~ ., , i, , ., i, scale? well, that is always going to be a big question, _ scale? well, that is always going to be a big question, who _ scale? well, that is always going to be a big question, who is _ scale? well, that is always going to be a big question, who is going i scale? well, that is always going to be a big question, who is going to l be a big question, who is going to pay for theirs? to the african countries, the african union have the support, will be the commitment from the g7 and the g20 countries? clearly they will need the support. the other good thing about this vaccine, the version 2.0 is the cost is relatively low, we looking at two a dose and that is because it uses technology similar to our covid vaccine which was also about two per dose and we got 100 million doses administered around that same level of support. so, you are right, if you talk about $2—$3 a dose, 100

million doses, two is not a lot of money but it is a lot of money, depending on you look at it. i’m depending on you look at it. i'm sor to depending on you look at it. i'm sorry to squeeze you in, we're out of time and going to into the break but thank you for coming on. big news —— big news, the continent of africa. we had only take a short break, we had to come back with a next or no mystery about the number of bombings in sweden. to stay with us, we'll be right back. hi there, good evening. it's been another day of contrasts across the uk — still warm for the time of year with some of the best of the sunshine today across areas of scotland and northern ireland, but also a good scattering of showers here. misty, murky, still humid further south, with outbreaks of rain, but fresher—feeling conditions developing across the board tomorrow.

there'll be some sunny spells, but again, some showers — heaviest and most frequent towards the north and the west. now, today's showery outbreaks of rain across england and wales were courtesy of this warm front, pulling out into the north sea overnight tonight, followed by a cold front that will sweep away the humidity and the air. but still, we're likely to see a few more thunderstorms perhaps across east anglia for a time tonight, then it will turn a lot drier. showers fizzling out as they track the way further eastward, some of the coolest of the conditions across northeast scotland — again, a chilly start here to tomorrow morning, but for most, it's still mild for this time in october. now tomorrow, after that initial hangback of cloud clears away from eastern counties, then we're likely to see more sunshine develop. sunny spells, but then some showers tracking eastwards on a brisk westerly—to—northwesterly wind — again, they're likely to be heaviest out towards western areas of scotland and northern ireland. temperatures are lower, peaking between the mid—to—high teens in celsius, but again, that's slightly above the seasonal average. and that's probably it, in terms of rainfall for the south

of the uk for the rest of the week, because high pressure starts to build in from the south as we head through tuesday and into wednesday. so it's likely to be a dry, rather cool night here, milderfurther north. this is where we think the rain will probably be on wednesday, most likely to be heavy, i think, across southwestern areas of scotland. there are localised weather warnings in force, so most of the rain again towards the north and the west, temperatures on a par with tuesday's. brighter and drier the further south and east you are — and that's also true on wednesday into thursday, too. again, there'll be further weather fronts pushing in from the southwest. the temperatures won't get much past the high teens in celsius, but that is set to change as we head into the weekend. we start to draw in some very warm air from the south, with that high pressure building in from europe. so temperatures are likely to rise across the board. here's the outlook for our capital cities — so by the time we get to saturday, temperatures in much of scotland could be in the low 20s, also true for northern ireland and wales. mid—20s further south and east. bye— bye.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. men recruited for sex events claim they were exploited by the former boss of abercrombie and fitch and his british partner. a bbc panorama investigation reveals the allegations.

the former chief executive of global fashion brand abercrombie & fitch and his british partner are facing allegations of exploitation from men recruited for sex events they hosted around the world. a bbc investigation found a highly organised operation running the events, with a middleman finding young adult men for mikejeffries and his partner matthew smith. eight men told the bbc they attended these events, some of whom alleged they were exploited or abused. mrjeffries and mr smith did not respond to requests for comment. rianna croxford has the story. in the early 2000s, abercrombie and fitch became one of the hottest labels in the us and around the world. sexualised imagery and provocative billboards turned the teen retailer, which also owns the hollister brand, into a multibillion—dollar sensation.