Whaling Body Readmits Iceland after Swedish Polling Mistake
 This is a joke on both the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and Sweden. Iceland, one of the few nations in the world who wants to legalise hunting for some species of whale, has been long blocked from rejoining the body since it left in 1992. Today, with a 19-18 vote among IWC member nations, Iceland was readmitted.
The vote in the balance was Sweden's. Sweden had intended to vote no, like the UK and US, to avoid pro-whaling nations getting a new voice in the IWC. For some reason, the Swedes managed to vote yes by mistake! Sweden even has the chair of the IWC.
It is amusing that the IWC has desperately tried to keep dissenting nations out of its ranks. Iceland has a long tradition in whaling, and a large stock if different whales in its territorial waters. Obviously, it is much more important for the IWC to have among its members Switzerland, not to mention tiny San Marino, both landlocked!
11:44:56 PM 
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