ENVIRONMENT Minister General Surasak Kanchanarat yesterday dismissed fresh calls from some forest community representatives for the utilisation of pristine forests excluded from the latest forestland survey and demarcation, arguing that possible changes in the modest way of living of forest dwellers could affect the forest ecosystem.

THE Ministry of Finance is holding firm against efforts for a draft bill on the regulation of digital currencies to be watered down, especially with the imposition of a 15 per cent withholding tax on transactions.