SEVERAL EARTHQUAKES struck Japan on Monday. At least 41 persons are reported dead (Shutterstock).

A series of major earthquakes rocked Japan on Monday, but authorities rolled back a high-level tsunami warning. However, people residing near the coast were warned not to return – yet – to their homes.

The biggest earthquake registered 7.6 on the Richter Scale, starting a fire and knocking down buildings on the west coast of the island of Honshu. Forty-one people are reported to have died.

Tremors – a dozen or more – started in the Japan Sea around 4 p.m. local time. Some people were reported to be trapped in a fallen building and electrical power was knocked out to 30,000 customers.

The initial tsunami warning indicated that surf could reach as high as 16.5 feet, but later estimates put the danger at five feet.

Israel’s high court voids new court law

By an 8-7 vote on Monday, Israel’s supreme court struck down as unconstitutional a controversial law passed in July to limit the power of the nation’s judiciary.

The law has been widely protested and could trigger a crisis between the power of the government and its judicial branch.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners are said to be seeking to move Israel toward a more “religious and nationalist” state, as opposed to a more “secular and pluralist” society.

Sports: Michigan, Washington in College final

The matchup for the College Football championship game to be played next Monday in Houston is set.

Michigan (14-0) won its semifinal game in the Rose Bowl by 27-20 over Alabama (12-2) in overtime. Later on Monday, in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Washington (14-0) defeated Texas (12-2) 37-31 in a game that came down to the final play.

Weather: Still playing it cool

The coming week for our West Orange County area will be a blend of sunny and rainy and all cool. The forecast for Tuesday is for partly cloudy skies with a daytime high of 67 and an overnight low of 52. Morning rain will come on Wednesday, along with a high of 63 and  low of 43. Sunny skies will emerge on Thursday with a high of 63 (44). Mostly sunny skies are forecast for Friday with a high of 65 (44).