The Western Bloc is an informal, collective term for countries that were officially allied with the United States during the Cold War of 1947–1991. While the NATO member states, in Western Europe and Northern America, were pivotal to the bloc, it included many other countries, in the broader Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa with histories of anti-Soviet, anti-communist and, in some cases anti-socialist, ideologies and policies. As such, the bloc was opposed to the political systems and foreign policies of communist countries, which were centered on the Soviet Union, other members of the Warsaw Pact, and usually the People's Republic of China. The name "Western Bloc" emerged in response to and as the antithesis of its Communist counterpart, the Eastern Bloc. Throughout the Cold War, the governments and the Western media were more inclined to refer to themselves as the "Free World" or the "First World", whereas the Eastern bloc was often referred to as the "Communist World" or less commonly the "Second World".
The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is an international non-profit industry trade group for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers.
Reina Hispanoamericana is an annual beauty pageant celebrating Hispanic heritage, language and culture, started in 1991 as Reina Sudamericana, is based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Up to 2003 the participants were restricted to the 10 countries in South America; in 2004 participants from Panama and Costa Rica in Central America were invited; and in 2006 participants from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Portugal & Spain joined. In 2007 Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras & United States were added, and the name changed to Reina Hispanoamericana. In 2008, Curaçao and Haiti were added. In 2017, the Philippines, Canada, and Australia were added. In 2023, Indonesia was added.
The OECD Development Centre was established in 1961 as an independent platform for knowledge sharing and policy dialogue between Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries and developing economies, allowing these countries to interact on an equal footing.
Miss Earth 2014, the 14th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, held on November 29, 2014 at the University of the Philippines Theater, inside the campus of the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, Philippines. Alyz Henrich of Venezuela crowned her successor Jamie Herrell of the Philippines at the end of the event.
Reinas de Costa Rica is a national beauty pageant in Costa Rica that selects representatives to the Miss World and Miss International pageant. After the Miss Costa Rica pageant stopped sending contestants to the Miss World and Miss International pageants in 2006, the franchise was acquired by the Reinas de Costa Rica organization presided by Alan Aleman. However, after two years of absence in the Miss World pageant in 2017-2018, the organization eventually lost the franchise to the newly established contest, Concurso Nacional de Belleza de Costa Rica in 2019. The organization also lost the Miss Earth franchise to Jose Vásconez in 2016.
Miss Earth 2016, the 16th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, with the theme "Empowered to make a Change", was held on October 29, 2016, at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. 83 contestants from all over the world competed for the title. Angelia Ong of the Philippines crowned her successor Katherine Espín of Ecuador at the end of the event becoming the second Ecuadorian woman to win the title of Miss Earth and the first since Olga Álava in 2011.
Miss Asia Pacific International is one of the oldest international beauty pageants based in Manila, Philippines.
Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 was the second Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, on November 29, 2016.
Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 was the third Miss Asia Pacific International pageant after its 2016 re-launch, held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, on October 4, 2018.
Miss Asia Pacific International 2016, was an international beauty contest held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines on November 23, 2016. Forty women from all over the world vied for the crown and for the title of Miss Asia Pacific International.
Miss Earth 2019, the 19th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on October 26, 2019, at Okada Manila in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines where Nguyễn Phương Khánh of Vietnam was succeeded by Nellys Pimentel of Puerto Rico at the end of the event. This marks the first time Puerto Rico has won Miss Earth, becoming the first territory to win at least once in all of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
Miss Asia Pacific International 2005, formerly titled Miss Asia Pacific Quest in 2003, the 36th Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, was held on 9 April 2005 at Guangzhou, China where 51 candidates competed for the title. Tatyana Nikita of Russia crowned her successor Leonora Jiménez of Costa Rica at the end of the contest.
Germany
Romania
Dominican Republic
Cameroon
Canada
Philippines
Belgium
New Zealand
Portugal
Mexico
Malaysia
Honduras
Italy
Namibia
Peru
Spain
Colombia
Netherlands
Latvia
Brazil
Nigeria
Costa Rica
Australia
South Africa
Thailand
