Margaret Papandreou, the United States-born women’s rights campaigner who played a prominent role in advancing women’s rights in Greece, has died at the age of 102.

Papandreou, who was the wife of former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and mother of former Prime Minister George Papandreou, died at her home in Athens on Friday, according to Greek officials and local media reports.

She died just days before her 103rd birthday.

Greek President Constantine Tassoulas paid tribute to the late women’s rights advocate, describing her as an influential figure in the transformation of women’s social and political status in Greece.

Tassoulas said Papandreou “supported and inspired the reform of family law, the breakthrough in social and political rights, and the modernisation of women’s status in Greek society.”

He also noted her involvement in campaigns against cancer, tuberculosis and polio.

“She loved Greece deeply. She was the wife of a Prime Minister and the mother of a Prime Minister, but above all an active citizen, as she treated public affairs as her own,” the president said.

From the United States to Greece
Born Margaret Chant in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1923, Papandreou later moved into Greek public life after meeting Andreas Papandreou while he was teaching economics at Harvard University.

The pair married in 1951, beginning a partnership that would place Papandreou at the centre of Greece’s political and social transformation for decades.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, she became involved in progressive political activities and was among the founding members of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, popularly known as PASOK.

The party went on to become a dominant force in Greek politics following the collapse of the country’s military dictatorship in 1974.

Papandreou also helped establish the Women’s Union of Greece in 1976 and served as its chairperson for several years.

Campaign for women’s rights
Her influence became particularly prominent after her husband became prime minister in 1981.

During his administration, Greece introduced significant reforms affecting women and family life, including the abolition of the dowry system, the legalisation of abortion and the establishment of civil marriage.

Papandreou was actively involved in promoting the reforms and became widely associated with the campaign for greater equality and social rights for Greek women.

Her public profile earned her widespread recognition in Greece, where she was affectionately known as “Margarita.”

Life after Andreas Papandreou
Papandreou’s personal life also attracted significant public attention.

Her marriage to Andreas Papandreou ended in divorce in 1989, when he left her to marry an air hostess.

Despite the highly publicised separation, Papandreou later spoke without bitterness about her former husband.

“I’ll always treasure that portion of my life I had with Andreas. I do not want to spoil it with thoughts of revenge,” she told the Los Angeles Times at the time.

She went on to remain a prominent figure in Greek public life.

Papandreou had four children, including George Papandreou, who later followed his father into politics and served as Greece’s prime minister from 2009 to 2011.

George Papandreou became prime minister at the beginning of Greece’s severe debt crisis, which developed into a decade-long economic and political crisis for the country.

Margaret Papandreou’s death brings to an end the life of a woman whose activism, political involvement and advocacy contributed to major changes in the status of women in modern Greece.

A father in Indiana, United States, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison following the death of his one-week-old son, who was fatally attacked by the family dog at their home in Markle.

The infant, identified as Jason Anthony Weaver, died on September 4, 2025, after being attacked by Chomp, a five-year-old Husky and pit bull mix.

According to reports by the New York Post, the baby sustained more than 180 bite wounds in the attack, alongside severe internal injuries including brain haemorrhages, fractured ribs and injuries to his lungs.

Jason’s father, Austin Kinsey, told investigators that he had been in the same room with the baby while playing video games before briefly leaving to speak with other family members.

A police report obtained by WPTA said Jason’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, subsequently heard noises coming from the room and discovered Chomp dragging the infant.

Police officers who arrived at the residence attempted to resuscitate the baby, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Investigators also raised concerns about the condition of the family home, which court documents reportedly described as containing significant amounts of trash, dirty dishes, clothes and insects.

According to the report cited by the New York Post, an officer said there was so much rubbish and debris inside the property that moving around the house was difficult.

Investigators also reportedly found insects on the baby’s car seat.

Court documents indicated that members of the family had regarded Chomp as gentle with Jason. However, authorities said the dog had previously displayed aggressive behaviour towards other animals and had bitten people.

The dog was subsequently euthanised.

Kinsey initially faced two counts of neglect, as well as a charge connected to keeping a non-immunised dog that caused an injury.

As part of a plea agreement, the highest-level neglect charge was dropped. Kinsey was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison on Monday.

Meanwhile, Jason’s mother, Violet Weaver, is scheduled to appear for a change-of-plea hearing later this month.

Legal proceedings involving Jason’s grandparents, Timothy Kinsey, Rita Wickey and Michael Wickey, as well as his uncle, Tony Kinsey, are also pending.

Authorities later ordered the family to vacate the property after it was deemed unfit for habitation.

The case has drawn attention to questions surrounding child safety, supervision and the responsibility of pet owners, particularly where animals have previously displayed aggressive behaviour.

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 suspects in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer around Watt Market in Calabar, the state capital.

The arrests followed a viral video circulating on social media, which purportedly showed market women holding a police officer after a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster.

The video was accompanied by claims that the incident occurred after a police officer chased the suspected fraudster and allegedly scattered a trader’s goods at the market.

However, the Cross River State Police Command said the narrative accompanying the video was misleading and did not accurately reflect the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at about 3:30pm, after a concerned member of the public alerted the police that an officer was being attacked around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane in Calabar.

The command said a patrol team from Atakpa Police Division was immediately mobilised to the area.

The team reportedly rescued the officer and took him to the police station, where his account of the incident was obtained.

The police said the officer explained that he was proceeding from his office through Goldie by Bedwell Junction to meet members of his team when he attempted to impound a motorcycle.

According to the officer, the motorcycle rider was the same person who had allegedly stepped on his leg while he was carrying out his duties on September 11.

The officer reportedly told investigators that when he attempted to apprehend the rider, some roadside traders allegedly confronted and assaulted him while aiding the rider to evade arrest.

“When I subsequently attempted to apprehend the rider, I was confronted and assaulted by some roadside traders who allegedly aided the rider,” the statement quoted the officer as saying.

The command said the circumstances surrounding the incident were different from the claims being circulated online, urging members of the public to avoid relying on unverified narratives accompanying social media videos.

Following the incident, police operatives commenced investigations and arrested 60 suspects believed to be connected to the alleged assault.

The command said the investigation would establish the identities and individual roles of those involved in the incident.

The police have also continued efforts to clarify what transpired at the market and determine the circumstances that led to the confrontation between the officer, the motorcycle rider and traders in the area.

The command urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement authorities and refrain from actions capable of obstructing police operations or attacking officers while carrying out their lawful duties.

It also cautioned members of the public against drawing conclusions from videos circulated on social media without establishing the full circumstances surrounding such incidents.

The development comes amid renewed concerns over confrontations between security personnel and members of the public during enforcement operations.

The police command said further developments from the investigation would be communicated as appropriately.