In the Now with Anissa Naoui

Some of the big stories of the last 24 hours

The Big Four

“The Big Four” are in Minsk. Putin, Merkel, Hollande, and Poroshenko attempt a peace plan for Ukraine. Is this the last chance?

Obama says he "twists arms" 

of countries that don't play 

by the rules

War or peace - time to choose. Leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine have gathered in Minsk. It's their last ditch attempt to agree on a peaceful road-map. There've been leaks already. French President Hollande said some "quite strong" autonomy for East Ukraine's regions is on the cards. Reports say the sides are discussing withdrawal of heavy artillery and creation of demilitarized zone. President Obama skips the party throwing sharp statements instead. He said the reality of “American leadership” at times entails “twisting the arms” of states which “don’t do what we need them to do”. Patrick L. Smith from Salon magazine is In the Now.