It was only many years later that we learnt about the atrocities and the inhuman ways the natives of the Amazon Valley were subjected to by the white barons to develop exporting of natural rubber to Europe to provide the main raw material for the automotive tyre industry which was gradually evolving in to a flourishing industry. The inventing of synthetic rubber in the late 1940s and the development of SBR  due to the short supply of natural rubber from the colonies  in the East to cater for the growing demand for tyres used in the military vehicles during the Second World War and the Korean War is another episode of beyond the border commercial endeavours.

Although the word ‘globalisation’ was coined by Theodore Levitt in 1983 through an article ‘Globalisation of Markets’ which appeared in the Harvard Business Review  (May-June 1983), I feel that we should go way back in the annals of history to get an understanding of the term. This knowledge may not look attractive to the modern business world. Nevertheless, the sociologists and others of similar disciplines will certainly find such knowledge useful in comprehending the modern day socio-economic woes.

Origins of globalisation may possibly be traced back to early human migrations, presumably from the Olduvai George Gorge, a site in Tanzania that holds the earliest evidence of human ancestors. Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, particularly different countries, with the intent of settling temporarily or permanently in the new location. It typically involves movement over long distances. The driving motive, namely seeking dominance over fellow men and exploiting the natural environment to achieve success, does not seem to have changed over the millions of years.

The emergence of the great civilisations, e.g. Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and their subsequent decline can be attributed to globalisation. Similarly, the invasions and cross-border military conquests of historical fame (or notoriety) such as that of Alexander the Great and colonisation by the West for the exploitation of natural wealth in Asia, Africa and South America reveals an ugly facet of globalisation.

The Silk Route interlinking East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Southern Europe, on the other hand, was central to the economic, political, cultural and religious interactions between these regions form 2nd century BCE to the 18th century.

The industrialisation and expansion of business and commerce across countries during the past 300-plus years was fuelled by the four industrial revolutions, or waves as some prefer to identify them, namely steam power, conveyor system, computers and digitalisation. The process is continuing to the unforeseeable future with new knowledge and innovations fuelling the globalisation.

The multifaceted nature of globalisation has commonly been identified into eight types as shown below:

•           Political Globalisation

•           Social Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Technological Globalisation

•           Financial Globalisation

•           Cultural Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Geographical Globalisation

My intention is not to delve in to a discussion about the pros and cons of globalisation, which has been comprehensively documented, but to highlight on some key aspects from this part of the world, especially of the Asian subcontinent.

Knowledge dissemination across border, in my view, is the single most important factor associated with globalisation. This appears common to all the above types of globalisation. The dissemination of the Buddhist doctrine by the great Emperor Asoka to countries spreading from the far East to the Central Asia and Middle East including the present Sri Lanka during 3rd century BCE is one of the earliest recorded instances of globalisation.

Countries with long histories going back to 3,000 to 4,000-plus years, such as India, China and Sri Lanka, possessed a vast knowledge base ingrained in the social consciousness. This appears to have significantly influenced the philosophical and intellectual thought of the Greek and Persian periods. Unfortunately, a major part of this knowledge has been eroded through the influence of the West, which started around the 16th century. One good example of this knowledge found in the ancient irrigation knowledge of Sri Lanka is the engineering  marvel of a gradient of 1 inch per mile in an ancient canal about 87 km long,  built to connect two man-made reservoirs in the 5th century AD. Similarly, India and Sri Lanka possessed a vast indigenous knowledge base in medicine, astrology, architecture, agriculture, irrigation and astrology, and it is somewhat unfortunate that this knowledge has not been adequately globalised. The only significant inroads are seen in tourism. But that too are based on the western norms.

On the other hand, we have acquired a vast knowledge from the industrialised countries on modern management thoughts and technologies which have enabled industrialisation and improvement in living conditions of the populace. In this era of interdependency, a country cannot afford to ignore the technologies which are necessary to maintain a suitable level of competitiveness internationally. However, if this is accomplished at the expense of ignoring the inherent social and cultural foundations, the long-term adverse consequences would be disastrous and unimaginable.

The adverse long-term consequences of the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and the global addiction to pharmaceuticals are already seen physically and socially in practically all the countries, especially the so called underdeveloped or developing countries.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the irreversible effects of global warming are two examples of globalisation which are affecting the mere sustenance  of mankind.

A country can immensely benefit by striving for stars through adopting modern technologies. However, the absolute importance of a strong base cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Back to a strong base and reinforcing the base lies at the core of sustainable development.

The words of Mahatma Gandhi echoing from the past reaffirm this plain truth in no uncertain terms.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”

“What's past is prologue," a quote from William Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ presumes that though history is written, the future is anyone's to decide – with the knowledge gleaned from the past. (TT)

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Hankook Tire has unveiled a new generation of winter tyres for trucks, introducing the Smart Control AW53 for steering axles and the Smart Control DW53 for drive axles. Designed for harsh winter conditions, these models will eventually replace the previous Smart Control AW02 and DW07 winter tyres. They combine high traction on snow and ice with strong cornering and braking performance, along with high mileage. The pair debuts at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, where the company exhibits from 15 to 20 September at stand E09 in hall 11.

Development prioritised strong winter performance across the tyres' full lifespan. Hankook achieves improved winter traction through advanced technology and a blend of tread features. Zigzag grooves and 3D sipes add grip on snow and ice, while tie bars stiffen tread blocks, supporting precise handling and stable driving.

Internal testing at the UTAC Test Centre in Ivalo, Finland, showed the AW53 and DW53 outperforming the earlier AW02 and DW07 models. Braking on snow improved by 2.8 percent, acceleration by 4 percent and handling by 3.7 percent. Central to the design is Hidden Groove technology, in which extra tread grooves emerge as wear progresses, maintaining snow traction and wet grip even when well worn. At 40 percent wear, additional 3D sipes appear, increasing tread block stiffness and improving grip while lowering rolling resistance. At 70 percent wear, further concealed grooves enhance wet grip. Alongside self-regenerating sipes, this sustains winter performance across the service life and extends it by as much as 15 percent.

Stone ejectors in the main grooves and Y-shaped lateral grooves reduce stone retention and shield the tread and carcass from damage. A newly developed compound further contributes to balanced grip. At launch, the AW53 comes in size 385/65 R22.5 164K (158L), rated for 5,000 kg per tyre. The DW53 is offered in size 315/80 R22.5 (156/150L), with a maximum load of 4,000 kg per tyre for single fitments or 3,350 kg for twin fitments. More sizes are planned. All new Smart Control winter tyres carry the 3PMSF label and both can be regrooved and retreaded to extend their working life further.

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Dunlop Motorcycle Europe is set to back teams and riders contending for championship honours at the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) finale, the 89th Bol d’Or, held at Circuit Paul Ricard.

The tyre manufacturer will assist 43 teams in total, serving as exclusive tyre supplier to all 24 Superstock and 13 Production Trophy entrants. Five manufacturers will contest the Production Trophy’s second title, while six privateer squads in the open-tyre Formula EWC class have opted for Dunlop, among them the No. 6 ERC Endurance Team, which recorded a 1:52.173 best lap in Bol d’Or testing.

The season-closing 24-hour race poses a demanding mix of technical corners and fast stretches, notably the 1.8-kilometre Mistral Straight, alongside day-to-night running and traditionally changeable weather that may test both dry and wet KR allocations.

Dunlop will provide its established KR108 and KR109 slicks, plus a latest-generation medium front specification, developed as G2_01 VAL3 and validated with EWC teams in 2025 for improved durability and performance. The range targets single-lap speed and multi-stint longevity, with intermediate and wet tyres available for all conditions.

David Auerbacher, International Motorcycle Race Event Leader, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “We’re excited to return to Circuit Paul Ricard for the season finale, where both the Superstock and Production Trophy champions will be crowned. It’s been another strong season for Dunlop across all categories, as we celebrate five years as the exclusive tyre supplier to the Superstock Trophy and two years supporting the Production Trophy. Both categories have continued to grow and develop, while leading privateer teams also continue to choose Dunlop as they fight for wins and podiums in the Formula EWC class. We’re looking forward to an exciting season finale and are proud to support all the teams and riders as they battle for championship success at the biggest race of the EWC calendar.”

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The Tyre Recovery Association convened its Briefing Day 2026 at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire, drawing more than 100 senior figures from the UK tyre recovery, retreading, retail and manufacturing sectors alongside national regulators, parliamentarians and trade bodies. The event served as a platform to press for meaningful reforms covering tyre recovery, green procurement and domestic circular resilience.

Tessa Munt, the MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, delivered a keynote address that attacked the enduring disconnect between government policy rhetoric and industrial reality. Drawing on her parliamentary work regarding end-of-life tyre exports to India and her engagement with Somerset businesses, she condemned official inaction and set out four priority areas for reform, criticising a reliance on superficial slogans while domestic capacity lies stranded.

The MP highlighted what she described as a double standard, noting that the Environment Agency imposes strict Digital Waste Tracking on compliant domestic operators while granting misplaced goodwill and deadline extensions to non-compliant overseas exporters. Before the rules were diluted, proof-of-arrival compliance stood at just 20 percent. She further noted that more than 150,000 tonnes of licensed UK recycling and remanufacturing capacity remains entirely idle while raw waste is shipped abroad.

Her proposed reforms comprised the immediate statutory withdrawal of T8 exemptions to establish an audited permit regime, adoption of the Australian shred-only export model to end whole and baled tyre exports, instant revocation of export licences for brokers failing to supply timestamped and geotagged proof of delivery and mandatory green public procurement quotas for remanufactured tyres and rubberised asphalt. The RAC Foundation's Steve Gooding also addressed the conference, explaining that a modest 10 percent rubberised asphalt target in public highway contracts would absorb all idle UK crumb capacity, reduce road noise by three to five decibels and produce longer-lasting roads. Strong participation from the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association (BTMA) and the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA) underscored growing cross-sector unity.

Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General, TRA, said, "The TRA Briefing Day proves that the British tyre recovery sector is united, highly innovative and ready to grow. Having around 100 key players and all four leading trade associations in one room shows that our industry is speaking with one voice. If the UK’s tyre recovery sector does not grow, it will soon disappear from these shores. We are gradually making progress in getting government to understand this, but there is a long way to go. We have the domestic processing infrastructure, the technical capability and the private capital ready to build a world-class circular economy. What we lack is a regulator and a government willing to back domestic industry by ending illegal whole tyre exports and enforcing green procurement. Tessa Munt MP highlighted this in her powerful speech. We are very grateful to her, Steve Gooding and all those who spoke yesterday, as well as our sponsors Vaculug, Murfitts and KwickFit. These contributions made the event an overwhelming success. The message from industry is clear: the time for policy talk is over, we need to statutory reform."

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has entered a new partnership with West Yorkshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration arrives amid concerning road safety figures, with 51 deaths and 1,210 serious injuries recorded on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025.

The two organisations will work together to highlight the essential role tyres play in road user safety. Drivers will be encouraged to perform routine checks on tyre pressure, tread depth and overall condition. The initiative also supports West Yorkshire Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from the county’s roads.

West Yorkshire Police becomes part of a growing network of over 260 organisations partnering with TyreSafe to promote safer motoring and enhance public understanding of tyre safety. A rising number of police forces now recognise tyre safety as a vital component of their broader road safety efforts.

As the sole point of contact between a vehicle and the road, properly maintained tyres are critical for braking, steering and grip, especially in difficult conditions. TyreSafe advises road users to check their tyres monthly and before long journeys, helping identify pressure, tread and condition issues before they become safety risks. This partnership marks another significant step in TyreSafe’s mission to reduce tyre-related incidents and improve road safety across Britain.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome West Yorkshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. The fact that 51 people lost their lives and more than 1,200 suffered serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025 is a stark reminder that there is still so much work to do. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of West Yorkshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help ensure more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Inspector Claire Gray, Roads Policing Support and Proactive Intercept Team Inspector for West Yorkshire Police, said, “Every death and serious injury on our roads has a devastating impact on families, friends and communities. We are committed to working with partners to make West Yorkshire’s roads safer and to support the Vision Zero ambition. Vehicle safety is an important part of that work, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to help raise awareness and encourage road users to take responsibility for checking and maintaining their tyres.”

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