10 things you need to know today: April 28, 2012

A Chinese dissident goes into hiding, the Secret Service prostitution scandal widens, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

After escaping house arrest, blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng released a YouTube video alleging corruption in the Chinese government.
(Image credit: YouTube)

1. U.S. ECONOMY GROWS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED

The latest GDP report finds that the U.S. economy expanded by a disappointing 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012, as businesses scaled down their investments and government cutbacks, especially in defense spending, dropped for the sixth straight quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2011, GDP grew by 3 percent, and many analysts had expected Q1 2012 growth of about 2.5 percent. Still, a surge in consumer spending, thanks to a rise in auto sales, helped soften the blow. [Reuters]

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