📌 Harris For President? Mars-Like Tests, More

Party donors, activists, and officials are asking: Does Kamala Harris have a better chance than Biden to beat Donald Trump?

Harris, 59, a former US senator and California attorney general, would be the first woman to be US president if she becomes the party's nominee and prevails in the Nov. 5 election.

Harris is also the first African American and Asian person to serve as vice president. But critics say her 3½-year White House tenure has been lackluster, not showing significant successes.

A CNN poll released on July 2 found that voters favored Trump over Biden, 49%–43%, and Harris, 47%–45%. It found that independents back Harris at 43%–40% over Trump, and moderate voters of both parties prefer her at 51%–39%.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll after last week's televised debate between Trump and Biden found Harris and Trump were nearly tied, with 42% supporting her and 43% backing him.

Harris's prosecutorial background could shine in a debate against Trump, Democrats said. Republican attacks on Harris are increasing as suggestions for her replacing Biden escalate.

A crew of NASA scientists on Saturday exited a 17,000-square-foot, 3D-printed, Mars-simulated habitat as residents for over a year.

The mission was the first of a NASA program that aims to collect data on health and performance in a Mars-like environment. Medical officer Nathan Jones said the 378 days “went by quickly.”

The crew worked through challenges future astronauts could face on a manned mission, including “Mars walks," communication delays and growing and harvesting vegetables.

The crew was put on a prescribed meal plan and underwent long observation, said Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center. “This was crucial as we prepare to send people to Mars.”

After tactical voting in France's election, a left-wing alliance has won the most seats in the French parliament.

The New Popular Front—a cluster of parties from the far-left France Unbowed party to the more moderate Socialists and the Ecologists—won 182 seats in the National Assembly.

France Unbowed is the largest but short of the 289 required for a majority. Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance won 163 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its allies, 143 seats.

The results show French voters’ overwhelming desire to keep the far right from gaining power. However, figures in Macron’s party have said France Unbowed is just as extreme.

Unable to call another election for at least a year, President Emmanuel Macron looks set to preside over an unruly parliament as problems mount at home and abroad.

Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge to defraud the government.

The plea agreement is in connection with two crashes of its 737 Max jet that killed nearly 350 people during six months in 2018 and 2019.

Boeing will pay a fine of $487.2 million and invest at least $455 million over the next three years in its compliance and safety programs.

Boeing will be put on probation for three years. The Justice Department will install a compliance monitor at Boeing to ensure safety measures have been implemented and followed.

The agreement follows issues plaguing Boeing, including a door plug blowing off a 737 Max jet mid-flight in January. The settlement must be approved by a US judge.