������Ƶ

FLORIDA: A man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida can represent himself during his trial, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off on Ryan Routh’s request but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. Earlier in the week, the federal public defenders had asked to be taken off the case, saying Routh had refused repeated attempts to meet with them.

Routh said during the hearing that his attorneys were diligent, but they didn’t listen to him and were afraid of him.

“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said.

Routh, 59, is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a US Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

Reiterating her message from a July 10 hearing, Cannon told Routh that she doesn’t intend to delay the Sept. 8 start date of his trial, even if she lets him represent himself. She also once again told Routh that she believes it’s a bad idea for Routh to represent himself.

Routh, who said he completed two years of college after earning his GED certificate, told Cannon that he understands the potential challenges and would be ready for trial.

Cannon said Thursday that she decided to hold the second hearing after receiving a June 29 letter from Routh that did not arrive at the courthouse until after that hearing. In that letter, Routh said he and his attorneys were “a million miles apart” and that they were refusing to answer his questions. He also wrote that he could be used in a prisoner exchange with Iran, China, North Korea or Russia.

“I could die being of some use and save all this court mess, but no one acts; perhaps you have the power to trade me away,” Routh wrote.

Cannon told Routh that she believed the federal public defenders assigned to Routh’s case were excellent attorneys.

“I find no basis to believe that there has been ineffective assistance of counsel,” Cannon said.

The judge also reminded Routh that she will not be able to assist Routh or provide legal advice during the trial.

Cannon also briefly addressed Routh’s suggestion of a prisoner exchange, saying, “I have no power or any opinion of anything you’ve written there.”

On Wednesday, the federal public defender’s office filed a motion for termination of appointment of counsel, saying “the attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken.” Attorneys said Routh has refused six attempts to meet with their team, including a scheduled in-person meeting Tuesday morning at the federal detention center in Miami.

“It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,” the motion said.

Cannon denied their motion on Thursday, explaining that their office was in the best position to prevent delays to the trial.

The US Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney.

Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.

Routh will have his first chance to represent himself on Friday during a scheduled hearing on whether certain evidence and testimony can be used at trial. His former attorneys are expected to be present as standby counsel.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

RIYADH: A course aiming to promote awareness of international humanitarian law and enhance its implementation in ������Ƶ took place on Wednesday in Riyadh.

The Introduction to International Humanitarian Law course was organized by the Kingdom’s national Standing Committee of International Humanitarian Law, or SCIHL, in partnership with the General Directorate of Border Guard, with the participation of more than 500 military and civilian personnel.

The three-day course took place at the Border Guard headquarters and included a series of specialized lectures addressing key topics such as cyber operations within the framework of international humanitarian law and the role of civilian and military media in times of armed conflict.

The program also featured a high-level panel discussion titled “The Importance of Enforcing International Humanitarian Law at the National Level,” delivered by a select group of experts.

SCIHL secretary-general counselor, Abdullah Al-Ruwaili, told Arab News that the diverse attendance reflected the high level of confidence participants place in the professionalism of the organizing bodies, particularly the SCIHL and the General Directorate of Border Guards.

Al-Ruwaili said that the relevance and timing of the course — amid escalating challenges related to conflicts and emerging technologies — were key factors behind the significant turnout.

The diversity of the course’s themes — encompassing legal, cyber and media aspects — played a key role in drawing a wide audience of practitioners and stakeholders, according to the secretary general. The interactive approach and the participation of prominent experts fostered a rich environment for dialogue and the exchange of expertise, Al-Ruwaili said.

He said that confidence in the professionalism of the organizing bodies and their commitment to the quality of content and outcomes were among the key factors behind the engagement and positive feedback from participants.

The joint organization of the course by the SCIHL and the Border Guard stands as a distinguished example of national institutional synergy in the implementation of international humanitarian law, he added.

By combining the committee’s legal and academic expertise with the directorate’s provision of a practical, field-based setting for in-depth dialogue, the initiative successfully integrated theoretical frameworks with real-world application — substantially enhancing the quality and impact of the training content, Al-Ruwaili said.

“This collaboration stands as a testament to the Border Guard’s dedication to strengthening its capabilities in accordance with international humanitarian values and principles. It represents a leading example of synergy between legal and security institutions — one that holds potential for broader application across various sectors,” Al-Ruwaili said.