5 Things to Know This Morning

Dec. 24, 2013— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. Christmas Eve Spacewalk

Two U.S. astronauts make a Christmas Eve spacewalk on the International Space Station that is scheduled to run six and a half hours. NASA believes only one more is needed to replace a failed cooling pump that keeps equipment aboard the ISS from getting too hot.

2. Cold Weather Stretches Over Parts of US

Bitter cold is pouring into the Great Lakes, Midwest, the Northeast and even the south this morning. Eleven states from Midwest to New England have wind chill warnings and advisories.

3. Increasing Tensions in South Sudan

The world's newest country seem to be sliding into a civil war as new evidence is emerging of alleged ethnic killings in South Sudan.

4. World Stocks Rise Ahead of Christmas

Overseas investors extended gains today on eased concerns about a cash crunch in China and continued optimism over the U.S. economy. Trading volumes remained light a day ahead of Christmas.

5. NORAD Tracks Santa

Santa's on his way! NORAD posted their first update of Christmas 2013 just before 4:30 a.m.: Santa Claus and his sleigh of reindeer took off from the runway outside his North Pole Toyshop, as villagers waved goodbye.