premise: HONG KONG: Covering developments after Internet and phone services were disrupted across much of Asia after an earthquake damaged undersea cables, leaving the region in a virtual blackout. (ASIA-QUAKE-INTERNET)
  JAKARTA: Reporting from Aceh on relief and rescue efforts after flash floods and landslides on Sumatra island which have killed more than 100 people and forced more than 400,000 to flee their homes. (WEATHER-INDONESIA-FLOODS)
  MINA, Saudi Arabia: Around two million Muslim faithful converge on Mina near Mecca to begin the annual hajj pilgrimage. (SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ)
   Why were internet and phone services disrupted?
hypothesis: an earthquake