*Colombia’s national statistics department (Dane) has released new figures showing that the country’s GDP grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. Compared with the immediately preceding quarter, GDP was up by 1.1% in seasonally adjusted terms. The sectors which saw the largest year-on-year growth were agriculture, fishing & hunting (+5.5%), public administration, defence, education & healthcare (+5.3%), and artistic activities, training & recreation (+5.2%). The steepest year-on-year decreases were in manufacturing industry (-5.9%), finance & insurance (-3.0%), and information & communications (-1.6%).