Christensen robs the Hotel Palace in Helsinki, Finland, killing two police officers while evading capture. October 29 – Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraq says it will begin shooting down Lockheed U-2 surveillance planes being used by UNSCOM inspectors. November November 11 – Telecom companies WorldCom and MCI Communications announce a US$37 billion merger to form MCI WorldCom, the largest merger in U.S. history. November 12 – Mary McAleese is elected the eighth President of Ireland in succession to Mary Robinson, the first time in the world that one woman has succeeded another as elected head of state. November 13 – Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. November 17 – In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by 6 Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut. November 19 – In Des Moines, Iowa, Bobbi McCaughey gives birth to septuplets in the second known case where all seven babies are born alive, and the first in which all survive infancy. November 27 NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission is launched, the start of the satellite component of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System. The 71st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City with high winds gusting up to 50 mph which lead to The Cat in the Hat balloon crashing into the lamppost between 72nd and Central Park West injuring 4 people, in addition, The Pink Panther balloon went out of control shortly after reaching Broadway and was shredded by a stoplight and a row of lampposts at 4 Times Square in which the balloon was removed. The balloon of Barney was torn in the side by a lamppost between 55th and Broadway which the balloon would later be removed and the accident would be viral in 2013 in a video titled, “Thanksgiving ‘97. The Day Barney Was Killed.” The balloon of Quik Bunny had his left ear poked by a tree while starting the parade, he continued with a deflated ear until he reached Times Square, when his hat was ripped open by a stoplight caused by high winds, the balloon would continue until 36th Street when it was removed from the lineup. December December 1 – In the Indian state of Bihar, Ranvir Sena attacks the CPI(ML) Party Unity stronghold Lakshmanpur-Bathe, killing 63 lower caste people. December 3 – In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign a