The week in photos: January 31 to February 6, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – On February 4, the House justice committee declared that the two impeachment cases against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were insufficient in substance, resulting in their dismissal.

The two petitions — endorsed separately by Pusong Pinoy Representative Jett Nisay and the three-member Makabayan bloc — both cited the President’s role in the flood control and overall budget mess. The junking of the complaints earns President Marcos a one-year immunity from impeachment, unless the plenary reverses the committee decision.

This week, preemptive evacuations, landslides, and flooding were reported in Northern Mindanao as Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) brought heavy rains ahead of its expected landfall. Basyang made its first landfall in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, then crossed other parts of the Caraga region before emerging over the Bohol Sea. Basyang weakened from a tropical storm into a tropical depression while approaching Bohol on February 6.

In the US, a Minnesota federal judge on January 31 declined to order a halt to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis, in a lawsuit by state officials accusing federal agents of widespread civil rights abuses. The lawsuit accuses federal agents of racially profiling citizens, unlawfully detaining lawful residents for hours, and stoking fear with heavy-handed tactics.

Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:

Houseboats and charter boats lay at a frozen pier in Eldenburg Marina, where the Reeck canal connects the frozen lakes Mueritz and Koelpin, due to ongoing sub‑zero temperatures, in Waren, Germany, on January 31, 2026. PHOTO BY ANNEGRET HILSE/REUTERS

A woman holds a sign during a vigil in memory of nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, outside the US Embassy in London, Britain, on January 31, 2026. PHOTO BY JACK TAYLOR/REUTERS

A heart-shaped arc made of red roses greets visitors of the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila on February 1, 2026, as the place gets busy for Valentine’s Day. PHOTO BY RAPPLER

A boat carries a ‘Pantegana,’ the big rat, as revellers row during the masquerade parade on the Grand Canal during the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY CLAUDIA GRECO/REUTERS

A demonstrator, with a poster of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the background, shouts slogans during a rally in support of the Iranian people, amid recent tensions between the United States and Iran, outside the US Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY KEMAL ASLAN/REUTERS

People take part in a rally in support of Czech President Petr Pavel, organized by Million Moments for Democracy group in reaction to a dispute between President Pavel and Czech Foreign Minister and Motorists chair Petr Macinka, in Prague, Czech Republic, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY EVA KORINKOVA/REUTERS

Civil protection members stand near an area affected by wildfires in Cholila, in the Patagonian province of Chubut, Argentina, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY NICOLAS PALACIOS/REUTERS

A full moon rises near the Space Launch System, with the Orion crew capsule, at launch complex 39B as preparations continue for the Artemis II mission to the Moon at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY STEVE NESIUS/REUTERS

Musicians Slash, Alex Watt, and Post Malone perform an Ozzy Osbourne Tribute at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 1, 2026. PHOTO BY DANIEL COLE/REUTERS

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the Australian Open men’s singles against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, in Melbourne, Australia, on February 1, 2026. Alcaraz becomes the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam titles. PHOTO BY JAIMI JOY/REUTERS

Activists wearing red rose dresses with faces covered in treacle sit outside Equinor’s offices staging an ‘oil spill’ protest, as the UK Government’s decision on whether to approve or reject the Rosebank oilfield is now imminent, in London, Britain, on February 2, 2026. PHOTO BY JACK TAYLOR/REUTERS

A maiko or apprentice geisha and a participant wearing a traditional kimono throw beans during the annual Setsubun bean-scattering ceremony to celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring and ward off evil spirits at Takahata Fudoson Kongoji temple in Hino, Tokyo, Japan, on February 3, 2026. PHOTO BY KIM KYUNG-HOON/REUTERS

People celebrate as internal security forces affiliated with the Syrian government prepare to enter the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria, following an agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Tel Brak, near al-Hasakah, Syria, on February 3, 2026. PHOTO BY KHALIL ASHAWI/REUTERS

Youth and student groups picket the Department of Justice headquarters in Manila to condemn the sedition charges filed by the PNP-CIDG against campus journalist Jacob Baluyot and other youth leaders, on February 4, 2026. PHOTO BY JIRE CARREON/RAPPLER

Members of the House committee on justice vote on the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as lacking in substance, at the House of Representatives, on February 4, 2026. PHOTO BY LISA MARIE DAVID/REUTERS

Pope Leo XIV meets with the faithful at the end of the weekly general audience at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, on February 4, 2026. PHOTO BY REMO CASILLI/REUTERS

A model walks on the runway during Dubai Fashion Week for Autumn/Winter 2026/2027, bringing together regional and international designers, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on February 4, 2026. PHOTO BY RULA ROUHANA/REUTERS

Rescue workers carry a child during a forced evacuation of some 2,298 people due to flooding from continuous rain spawned by Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) in Cagayan de Oro on February 5, 2026. PHOTO FROM CAGAYAN DE ORO INFORMATION OFFICE

Torchbearers walk through the tracks during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy, on February 6, 2026. PHOTO BY MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS

Protesters take part in a march against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 6, 2026. PHOTO BY NAKAMURA GO/REUTERS

– with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com