The week in photos: July 11-17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte poked holes in the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the veep’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the impeachment trial’s 4th day on July 13.

The NBI forwarded its complaint to the Department of Justice on January 30, 2025, alleging that Duterte’s violation constituted three counts of grave threats and one count of inciting to sedition. But in a certification dated February 5, 2025, the DOJ returned the NBI’s recommendation and said it lacked necessary evidence.

“So, if the NBI did an investigation and sought witnesses, why did the DOJ return the complaint?” defense lawyer Mark Vinluan asked.

On July 14, the NBI did not find relevant threats against Vice President Sara Duterte’s life. NBI Bangsamoro chief Jeremy Lotoc says the Office of the Vice President ‘did not provide any information’ that can help them in their investigation.

“When we checked the security issue, your honor, the only relevant information that we discovered was the removal of 75 personnel from the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, if I’m not mistaken,” Lotoc added.

The issue on Duterte’s security was in the spotlight because this is one of her defenses against the fourth article of impeachment — grave threats against the Marcos couple. The defense earlier claimed that grave threat is not an impeachable offense.

Meanwhile at the FIFA World Cup, Spain defeated France 2-0 in the semifinals on July 15, to reach the title match for only the second time and denied 2018 champion France a third straight final appearance. The following day, Argentina defeated England 2-1 with late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. Lionel Messi contributed two assists in the match, bringing his total to a tournament-record 12 career assists.

Spain is chasing its second World Cup after the triumph in 2010, while Argentina is pursuing a fourth title and back-to-back World Cups – an achievement not secured in more than six decades.

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

People offer prayers during memorial ceremony and funeral for ten victims marking the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Potocari, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on July 11, 2026. PHOTO BY AMEL EMRIC/REUTERS

A man walks next to a symbolic mockup of an Iranian missile and an Iranian flag at Imam Hussein Square in Tehran, Iran, on July 12, 2026. PHOTO BY MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA VIA REUTERS

People look from balconies ahead of the Running of the Bulls at the San Fermin festival, where each morning for eight days hundreds of festival-goers share an 875 meters course with six fighting bulls leaving their corral and heading for the bull ring, in Pamplona, Spain, on July 12, 2026. PHOTO BY VINCENT WEST/REUTERS

People cross a flooded street on tricycle following torrential rain in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 12, 2026. PHOTO BY MOHAMMAD PONIR HOSSAIN/REUTERS

A person views posters for people who are missing in the aftermath of the June 24 earthquakes, at the Dr. Domingo Luciani Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 13, 2026. PHOTO BY LEONARDO FERNANDEZ VILORIA/REUTERS

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala with her parents Mike and Rizza is welcomed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos at Malacañang Palace on July 13, 2026. Marcos conferred the Presidential Citation on Eala in recognition of her ‘historic achievements as the first Filipino woman to attain unprecedented success on the international, professional tennis circuit.’ PHOTO FROM BONGBONG MARCOS FACEBOOK

Cast member Rita Ora attends a premiere for the film ‘Descendants: Wicked Wonderland’ in Los Angeles, California, on July 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS

Senator-judges and witness, National Bureau of Investigation BARMM Regional Director Attorney Jeremy Lotoc, watch a presentation by the defense during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 14, 2026. PHOTO FROM THE SENATE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT

A family member reacts as she receives the body of a victim at the police hospital morgue, following a deadly fire at a pub in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 14, 2026. PHOTO BY ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS

EasyPost’s Ben Healy and Soudal Quick-Step’s Louis Vervaeke in action as fans dressed as monks cheer on during Stage 10 of the Tour de France in Aurillac, France, on July 14, 2026. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LECOCQ/REUTERS

Spain fans watch the FIFA World Cup semifinal match between Spain and France at the fan zone in the Plaza de Colon in Madrid, Spain, on July 14, 2026. PHOTO BY SUSANA VERA/REUTERS

An England fan inside the stadium before the FIFA World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15, 2026 PHOTO BY PAUL CHILDS/REUTERS

An Argentine fan proposes to his partner as supporters celebrate in Buenos Aires after Argentina qualifies for the FIFA World Cup finals, on July 15, 2026. PHOTO BY MARIANA NEDELCU/REUTERS

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, accompanied by officers of the PNP-CIDG, leaves the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on July 15, 2026, for his detention at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas. PHOTO BY JIRE CARREON/RAPPLER

Flowers and a picture adorn a makeshift street-side memorial for Johan Sebastian Duran, a driver who was fatally shot on July 13 by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, in Biddeford, Maine, on July 15, 2026. PHOTO BY SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS

A Canada Goose stands on the shoreline of the Toronto Islands, on Lake Ontario, as the downtown skyline is covered by wildfire smoke during a heat wave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on July 15, 2026. PHOTO BY KYAW SOE OO/REUTERS

Egyptian girls and tourists enjoy a cold-foam and bubbles party on the beach as temperatures soar during a heatwave at a Red Sea resort in Hurghada, Egypt, on July 16, 2026. PHOTO BY AMR ABDALLAH/REUTERS

Women wearing traditional Cholita attire perform skateboard tricks during a Cholita skating competition in La Paz, Bolivia, on July 16, 2026. PHOTO BY CLAUDIA MORALES/REUTERS

Screens inside the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House display US President Donald Trump speaking about election security during an address to the nation from the East Room of the White House, except for ABC and NBC, who chose to not air the address live on their primary platforms, in Washington DC on July 16, 2026. PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS

Rescue workers search for survivors at the site of a landslide along Wujiang river in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing, China, on July 17, 2026. PHOTO BY CNS VIA REUTERS

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