Nation, world briefs 1/20/16

Budget deficit to rise to $544B

WASHINGTON -- A government report released Tuesday estimates this year's budget deficit will rise to $544 billion, an increase over prior estimates that can be attributed largely to tax cuts and spending increases passed by Congress last month. The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office also sees the economy growing at a slower pace this year than it predicted a few months ago. It projects economic growth will slow to 2.7 percent this year; it foresaw 3.0 percent growth in 2016 in last summer's prediction. Over the coming decade, CBO predicts deficits totaling $9.4 trillion. That's up $1.5 trillion from its August estimate, with much of the increase mostly due to last month's tax legislation, which permanently extended several tax cuts Congress typically had renewed temporarily.

Lawyer: Teen taken to Mexico forcibly

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Attorneys for a Texas teenager known for using an "affluenza" defense said Tuesday they're investigating whether the 18-year-old fled to Mexico or was taken against his will. Ethan Couch's attorney, Scott Brown, said after a hearing in the case whether his client "was voluntarily or involuntarily taken to Mexico is something that is still being investigated." Authorities allege Couch and his mother fled to Mexico as Texas prosecutors investigated whether he may have violated his probation in a case stemming from his drunken-driving wreck that killed four people in 2013. Tuesday's juvenile court hearing was scheduled to determine whether Couch, who is being held in Mexico, violated his probation and whether the case should be transferred to adult court.

Marine copter's rafts found; none used

HONOLULU -- The Coast Guard found the fourth life raft from two Marine helicopters that crashed off Hawaii, but no sign has emerged of any of the 12 missing crew members. All the rafts aboard the helicopters have been recovered, and all were empty, Marine Capt. Timothy Irish said. A good Samaritan spotted the final raft Monday afternoon, and a Coast Guard vessel recovered it three miles north of Oahu, Petty Officer Tara Molle said. There is no indication anyone had been on the rafts, based on their condition and the lack of personal effects, she said. The Coast Guard promised families would be notified before plans to end the search, which has entered its fifth day. Agencies have searched the water and shoreline since a civilian spotted the helicopters late Thursday, saw a fireball and alerted the Coast Guard.

IS admits death of 'Jihadi John'

NEW YORK -- The SITE Intelligence Group said the Islamic State group is acknowledging the death of a masked militant known as "Jihadi John" who appeared in videos depicting the beheadings of Western hostages. SITE, which tracks terrorism, said IS published a "eulogizing profile" Tuesday of Jihadi John in its magazine Dabiq. He had been identified by the U.S. military as Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born British citizen. The U.S. military had said it was "reasonably certain" a drone strike in Syria killed Emwazi.

-- From wire reports