Chinese general visits: China's top military officer, Gen. Chen Bingde, visits the Pentagon on Tuesday. Chen, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, is the highest ranking Chinese military officer to visit the U.S. in seven years.

Chinese state media has touted Chen's U.S. visit as a chance to build on goodwill established during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the U.S. earlier this year.

"It is worth noting that the military ties between the two countries lag far behind their relations in other fields partially because the Chinese and U.S. militaries still lack strategic mutual trust," By Yang Yi, a research fellow with China's National Defense University, wrote in the People's Daily Online.

Chen has meetings scheduled with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, among others during his week-long visit.

On Monday night, Chen and Mullen watched a joint performance of Chinese and U.S. Army bands at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Xinhua reported.

Jordan's king visits: President Barack Obama begins a week of focus on the Mideast when he sits down for talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday.

In the talks, the king will try to find ways to get Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table, the Jordan Times reports.

The Jordanian monarch also discussed that issue and others with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday.

Obama is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday.

NBA playoffs: The NBA's Western Conference Finals tip off in Dallas on Tuesday night as the Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It's the first time the teams have met since January and SI.com sets up the best-of-seven series with the following questions:

Whom will the Mavericks assign to guard Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, and whom will the Thunder assign to watch the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki? Which team is stronger in the backcourt? Will the Mavericks play a matchup zone defense? Can the Mavericks reprise their regular-season success in keeping the Thunder off the free-throw line and can they stop the Thunder's fast break?