Police and protesters clash in Bahrain

(CNN) -- The unrest spreading through North Africa and the Middle East has reached the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, according to reports from the state news agency.

At least three police officers and one demonstrator have been injured in clashes, the news agency reported. The injuries occurred during an attack on a police station during protests Sunday evening, the news agency said.

After three officers were injured, police fired on protesters with rubber bullets, causing one injury, the news agency said.

Further protests were scheduled to take place in Bahrain on Monday, making the country the latest in a string of nations to experience popular protests that began in Tunisia.

Protesters who have organized on Facebook, Twitter and with e-mails want political reforms, including a constitutional monarchy.

Recently, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa offered more than $2,500 to Bahraini families, ostensibly in celebration of Monday's 10th annivesary of the adoption of the country's National Action Charter.

Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.

Obama budget to cut deficit by $1.1 t

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama proposed a budget on Monday that would cut the U.S. deficit by $1.1 trillion over 10 years, setting the stage for a bitter fight with Republicans who vow even tougher spending controls.

Conservatives say Obama, a Democrat, is a tax-and-spend liberal, and they aim to make the 2012 presidential election a referendum on his fiscal track record.

Details of the budget proposal provided by the White House before its official release showed the deficit rising to $1.645 trillion in fiscal 2011, then falling sharply to $1.101 trillion in 2012.

This trend would trim the deficit as a share of the U.S. economy to 3.2 percent by 2015 from 10.9 percent this year.

"It's a start, it's a move in the right direction," said Philip Poole, global head of macro investment strategy at HSBC Global Asset Management in London. "It's a lot less than the Republicans wanted to see. It's not clear that this can actually be enacted," he said.

Muslim Brotherhood's key role in Egypt

London (CNN) -- One of the biggest questions hanging over the Egyptian revolution is the role of the Muslim Brotherhood. It's impossible to fully understand the importance of the Brotherhood's position today without referring to its violent past and its efforts since the 1970s to position itself as a mainstream religious and political movement in Egypt.

In the revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood reinforced this centrist position by recognizing the important role of young people in organizing the mass protests, calling for all opposition groups to unite against the Mubarak regime, and supporting Mohamed ElBaradei, a secular figure, as the main representative of the opposition uprising.

A historical examination of the Muslim Brotherhood reveals how far the group has evolved.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in the 1920s by the prominent Egyptian schoolteacher, Hassan al-Banna. By the end of the 1940s, its numbers had swollen to more than 500,000 on the back of three major causes: battling British colonialism, resistance to a new Jewish state and fighting corruption in Egypt. Now it is Egypt's most powerful opposition movement and has inspired Islamist movements worldwide.

Even though it was supposed to be apolitical and religious, in the 1930s al-Banna established a paramilitary wing. It carried out multiple operations against prominent Jews and targeted political leaders and judges in Egypt. In 1948, one of the Brothers assassinated Egyptian Prime Minister Mahmoud Nokrashy. As a result, the security services killed al-Banna, creating a chasm in the Muslim Brotherhood between the political and paramilitary wings.

Nevertheless, the British-backed monarchy was still the target for the Brotherhood. It backed the three army officers, including Gamal Abdel Nasser, who led the Officer's Revolution in 1952, which toppled the monarchy.

Stephen Colbert to sail the high seas

(CNN) -- Call him Captain Colbert. Comedian and TV host Stephen Colbert is headed for the high seas.

Colbert will take part in the 777-mile Charleston Bermuda Race in May, organizers of the event have announced.

"The ocean has had a free ride for too long. Well, it has to deal with me now. Brace yourself, Atlantic!" Colbert, the host of American political satire show "The Colbert Report," said in a statement Friday.

Event organizers have designated Colbert, who is a native of Charleston, S.C., Honorary Captain of the Fleet.

The Charleston Bermuda Race is described by organizers as a "romp through subtropical waters." This year's competition will begin May 21 from Charleston Harbor.

Held every two years, the first-to-finish in Bermuda competition is open to sailors with boats that are at least 30-feet long.

Colbert, who took part in the race in 2005, will compete in one of race sponsor OnDeck's 65-foot ocean-racing yachts.

OnDeck is presenting the race with the South Carolina Maritime Foundation and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Grocery CEO resigns after arrest in child prostitution sting

(CNN) -- The chief executive officer of a Western grocery store chain resigned after he was arrested in a child prostitution sting, according to police and CNN affiliate KNXV.

Michael Gilliland, 52, was one of eight people arrested in the sting, said Steve Martos, spokesman for Phoenix police. He is accused of soliciting sex online from a girl who identified herself as a minor on Thursday, he said.

Nevertheless, "the suspect arranged a meeting with this underage female" and allegedly drove to a hotel to meet her, authorities said. "The suspect agreed to pay the underage female for sexual intercourse," police said.

Gilliand founded Wild Oats Market, which was bought by Whole Foods in 2007, and was the CEO of Sunflower Farmers Market. He was charged with felony child prostitution.

Sunflower said in a statement that Gilliland resigned from his executive position and from the company board of directors, according to KNXV.

"Sunflower appreciates the respect that Mr. Gilliland has shown for the company by his action, so that his personal affairs will not affect the company," acting CEO Chris Sherrell said in the statement.

Gilliland told the company "that he believes he is not guilty of the charges brought against him, and that he expects to be exonerated," according to the statement, KNXV reported.