In Brief: Ex minister cleared; Hopes fade for Brzeszcze trapped miner

Jerzy Widzyk, a former transport minister in Jerzy Buzek's government, was cleared of charges of using illegal funds to construct his house. "We found no evidence supporting any of the charges made by the fiscal office," said Roman Wawrzynek from the Local Court in Opole. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) ... There are virtually no chances of saving a 38-year old miner trapped 640 meters underground in the burning Brzeszcze mine. On Thursday rescue teams pumped nitrogen into the area affected by the fire in order to decrease the temperature. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) M.M.