Freed hostage craves beer and football

Australia’s prime minister hailed the rescue of countryman Douglas Wood from insurgents in Iraq as a miracle, and his family today said he was in high spirits. He asked for a beer and news of his favourite Australian Rules Football team.

Wood has not lived in Australia for years. He’s a US resident married to a Californian woman, but has remained loyal to his team from the southern city of Geelong where he grew up.