Briefly

Boston

Harvard announces return to early admission policy

Harvard University is reverting to its old policy on early admissions, no longer allowing applicants to also apply early to other schools, the university announced Thursday.

The decision reverses a year-old policy of taking applications from high school seniors who had binding “early decision” applications elsewhere, as well as a 1999 policy that allowed prospective freshmen to submit nonbinding applications to other schools.

The school reverted to its original policy because the rising number of applications burdened interviewers and admissions officers, Harvard Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons said. The school received 7,600 fall applications last year, up sharply from roughly 6,000 annually in the previous three years.

Washington, D.C.

Lawmakers, White House OK smallpox compensation

Lawmakers and the White House reached agreement Thursday on payments for people injured by the smallpox vaccine, said Sen. Edward Kennedy, removing one barrier to the stalled inoculation program.

Response has been lackluster to the federal vaccination program, established to prepare for the possibility of a bioterror attack with smallpox. That’s partly because the vaccine carries rare but serious risks, including the possibility of severe rashes, blindness and life-threatening infections.

The agreement reached Thursday provides more money for people killed, seriously injured and modestly injured by the vaccine, according to Kennedy aides.

Florida

Federal judge denies bond to professor in terrorism case

A Palestinian-born professor will remain jailed without bond until his trial on charges that he led a terrorist organization’s U.S. operations and helped its members enter the country, a federal judge ruled Thursday in Tampa.

Former University of South Florida computer engineering professor Sami Al-Arian and co-defendant Sameeh Hammoudeh must remain jailed because each poses a danger and a flight risk, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo ruled.

The defendants and four coconspirators living abroad were indicted Feb. 20 on racketeering, conspiracy and other charges.

Pakistan

Powell: U.S. remains engaged in Indo-Pakistan dispute

Saying the India-Pakistan dispute remains dangerous, Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged Thursday that the United States would “stay engaged” in peacemaking between the two nuclear rivals.

In an interview with Pakistan’s state television, Powell dismissed a suggestion by India’s foreign minister that a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan was as justified as the U.S.-led pre-emptive strike on Iraq.

The United States and other western countries have expressed concern about India and Pakistan competing in an escalating nuclear arms race. In recent weeks, both countries have announced plans to move ahead with nuclear arms development.