5 Things to Know This Morning

May 21, 2014— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. 'Perfect' Finish to 'DWTS'

After 10 weeks of fierce competition and several surprise eliminations, Meryl Davis emerged the champion of season 18 of “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday, beating out actress Candace Cameron Bure and paralympian Amy Purdy for the mirror ball trophy. Davis and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy finished out the season by earning 90 out of a possible 90 points during the two-night finale.

2. What You Don't Know About the Most Valuable Brands in the World

The most valuable brands in the world include many familiar names, but how much do you really know about how the companies behind the brands impact your life?

Marketing firm Millward Brown's list of most valuable global brands are the cream of the crop because they have a significant "share of life," says Oscar Yuan, vice president of Millward Brown Optimor. Google, which usurped the top title from Apple after three years as king, isn't just a search engine company, Yuan said.

"The brands that don't play in those boundaries are the ones that are doing the best," Yuan said.

3. Special Operations Forces May Get 'Iron Man' Suit

In the 2008 movie "Iron Man," the main character becomes a superhero after building a suit of armor with an exoskeleton that gives him incredible strength.

Today, elite US special operations forces may be a few short years away from donning a similar suit, one that can monitor the user's vital signs, give him real-time battlefield information and be bulletproof from head to toe. The suit might eventually have other features unheard of only a few years ago, including an exoskeleton made of liquid armor, smart fabrics that could help stop hemorrhaging, enhanced sensory capabilities and Google Glass-like visuals.

4. McCartney Still Ill, Cancels South Korea Concert

Paul McCartney has canceled his concert in South Korea next week due to the virus-caused illness that forced him to call off his entire Japan tour, organizers said Wednesday. The former Beatle, who turns 72 next month, had planned to hold concerts in Japan and South Korea as part of his world tour.

"I was really looking forward to visiting and playing in South Korea for the first time and I'm sorry to be letting fans down," McCartney was quoted as saying in a statement released by Seoul-based Hyundai Card Co. Ltd., an organizer for his South Korea concert. "I'm very disappointed by this and hope to be able to visit soon."

5. More Cheers as Tara the Hero Cat Throws Out 1st Pitch

The cheers keep coming for Tara the tabby cat: Last week, she was seen saving her owner's 4-year-old son from an attack by a neighborhood dog. Last night, she and the boy threw out the first pitches at a minor league baseball game.

The crowd cheered as the boy, Jeremy Triantafilo of Bakersfield, California, threw the very first pitch at the Bakersfield Blaze game. Then Tara stepped up, held by Jeremy's father, Roger Triantafilo. At first, Tara's attempts to throw out a pitch by swatting a ball guided by a string failed. So Roger Triantafilo simply grabbed a ball and guided Tara's paw. As the pitch sailed, the crowd cheered.

MUST-SEE VIDEOS:

1. World News Now Headlines: Wednesday, May 21, 2014

2. 'DWTS' Season 18: Meryl and Maks Win Mirror Ball Trophy

3. The Mix: Stop Washing Your Jeans

4. Primary Election Results 2014: Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Wins

5. TechBytes: Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Chuck E Cheese's

6. America's Money: More GM Recalls