Madrid City Council has officially opened applications for its new financial support scheme aimed at boosting birth rates in the Spanish capital. Since Tuesday November 5, parents will receive €500 for their first child, €750 for the second, and €1,000 for the third and any subsequent children.

Announced last October as part of Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida’s (PP) wider natality plan, the subsidy is compatible with other regional or national support programmes. The deputy mayor highlighted that the goal is to offer real, practical help to families who choose to have children.

Applications must be submitted through a form available on the City Council’s website and can be filed either online or in person at any municipal registration office. Parents have two months from the day after the birth or adoption to apply. Those who welcomed a child from 1 June onwards also have a two-month window starting from today to complete the procedure. In cases of multiple births or adoptions, a separate application can be submitted for each child.

Madrid sets the pace with the most proactive city-level birth support scheme

With this incentive, the local government hopes to slow down the demographic decline. In 2024, 26,213 babies were born in Madrid, around 500 more than the year before, but still far from the 36,663 births recorded in 2008, before the financial crisis.

The City Council has allocated €17.3 million to this first round of grants, although the budget may increase if demand exceeds expectations.

This initiative is just one of 50 measures included in Almeida’s natality strategy, which totals €675 million of public funding. Among other actions, the plan also includes the opening of the eighth Family Support Centre, where families can access social, psychological, legal and mediation services designed to help prevent and resolve conflicts, and support parents in their daily responsibilities.

Spain combines national and regional aid to support new parents

Spain offers a wide range of financial incentives to encourage families to have children, combining state benefits with regional subsidies. National support includes a one-off payment for births or adoptions in specific cases such as single-parent households, large families or when one of the parents has a recognised disability. Families may also benefit from tax deductions that can reach up to €1,200 per year for children under the age of three.

Andalucia and the Valencian Community offer some of the highest payments

Some of the most generous subsidies are found in Andalucia and the Valencian Community. In Andalucia, families can access monthly support of €600 for a third child under the age of three, along with additional grants for multiple births or adoptions, which in some cases exceed €4,000. The Valencian Community offers payments starting at €600 for a first child, €750 for the second and €900 for the third or subsequent children, in addition to municipal support in certain cities.

Balearic Islands and Murcia expand incentives with additional grants

The Balearic Islands and the Region of Murcia also provide financial incentives to encourage birth rates. The Balearic Islands offer direct grants for newborns and specific aid packages for families with lower incomes. In Murcia, parents may receive a one-off payment of €1,000 for births or adoptions in large families, single-parent households or when one of the parents has a disability, subject to income criteria. With each region offering its own incentives, families in Spain can often combine several grants to help with the costs of welcoming a new baby.

Financial aid per child places Madrid ahead of other Spanish cities

With this move Madrid is positioning itself as a frontrunner among Spanish cities when it comes to encouraging birth rates through direct financial support. While other regions across Spain have launched schemes to promote family growth, Madrid stands out for applying a structured, city-level programme with clear payment tiers and an accessible application process.

By offering financial aid per child and complementing regional and national subsidies, the capital aims not only to ease the economic burden on new parents but also to reverse the decline in local birth figures. Madrid’s approach marks a significant step in urban family policy, placing the city at the forefront of innovation in natality support.

Read more news from Madrid here.

It seems everyone’s jumping on the AI bandwagon – and OpenAI has just proved it. The company behind ChatGPT has announced that more than one million businesses are now paying customers, making it the fastest-growing business platform in history.

From Cisco and Morgan Stanley to Booking.com, Lowe’s, and Target, global firms are putting AI to work in everything from customer support to software engineering. And with adoption rates like this, the question really is: who isn’t using ChatGPT these days?

OpenAI says the momentum has been driven by everyday users who were already familiar with ChatGPT. With over 800 million people using the tool each week, companies find it far easier to roll out AI internally.

Smarter tools and faster workflows

To help companies move from experiments to real results, OpenAI has launched a wave of business-ready features, including:

• Company Knowledge – lets ChatGPT securely access internal tools like Slack, SharePoint, and Google Drive to give better answers.
• Codex for developers – firms like Cisco are cutting code review times by 50 per cent.
• AgentKit – makes building custom AI agents practical. The Carlyle Group says it’s halved development time and boosted accuracy by 30 per cent.
• Multimodal models – from Sora 2 for video creation to Realtime API for live voice agents, helping teams work seamlessly across text, images, and sound.

Businesses report big returns on AI

A recent Wharton study found that three in four enterprises are already seeing a positive return on AI investments, while fewer than five per cent report losses.

Real-world examples include:

• Indeed, which saw a 20 per cent rise in job applications using OpenAI’s tech.
• Lowe’s, where a ChatGPT-powered in-store app now helps 1,700 shops deliver expert advice.
• Intercom, which cut product development cycles from months to days.
• Databricks, integrating OpenAI’s models directly into its enterprise data systems.

Building the next generation of business apps

OpenAI says the next step is all about building with AI, not just using it. Companies such as Canva, Figma, and Spotify have integrated directly into ChatGPT, while Shopify and Etsy are experimenting with conversational shopping via the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP).

In OpenAI’s words, there’s a huge opportunity to “rethink the operating system for work” – and the world’s biggest brands seem keen to help write it.

For locals and expats running businesses in Spain, Europe or beyond, this milestone shows how quickly AI is becoming part of everyday operations. From automating admin tasks to managing customer queries, tools like ChatGPT are rapidly becoming as standard as email.

It’s less about whether to use AI and more about how quickly you can put it to work.

View all tech news.

Bolnuevo Celebrates

The Fiestas del Milagro in Bolnuevo (Mazarrón) take place from November 8 to 17, offering a packed programme of concerts, food events, and traditional activities. The celebrations begin with the official opening in the municipal marquee, marking the start of the festival.

Family activities will be held at the Torre de los Caballos, including workshops and a theatrical visit that explains the story behind the Milagro. In the evenings, the marquee hosts live performances from artists such as La Húngara and Los de La Juana, followed by DJ sessions later at night.

A highlight is the traditional romería, when the image of the Virgin is carried along the coast between Bolnuevo and Mazarrón. You can enjoy hot chocolate and churros before setting off on the route.

Throughout the week, there will be sports tournaments, theatre and poetry evenings, and other cultural events linked to the town’s history. The programme also includes a migas cooking contest, children’s entertainment, and live music from Los Luisos and the Barullo Party.

The festival concludes with the return of the Virgin to Bolnuevo, a beachside sardine barbecue, and more live music, bringing the celebrations to an end with food, music, and tradition. For more details about the full schedule, see mazarron.es.

Motorbike Breakfast

THE second Motoalmuerzo (Motorbike Breakfast) in Los Narejos will take place on Sunday, November 9, from 9:00am on Avenida de la Constitución. The event is organised by the Los Narejos Festival Committee and is expected to bring together motorbike fans from across the area.

The morning will include breakfast, music, and time to enjoy the range of bikes on display, from older models to newer designs. It’s a relaxed community event that has grown in popularity and become a regular part of the local calendar.

The Motoalmuerzo gives riders and residents a chance to meet up, talk about their bikes, and enjoy a morning out in a friendly atmosphere. Even those who don’t ride often come along to see the bikes and take a walk around.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and organisers suggest arriving early to find a good spot and take part in the morning’s activities.

Coffee Morning

HELP Murcia Mar Menor is once again inviting everyone to take a break and enjoy a friendly morning out at their popular Coffee & Company event. It’s a relaxed get-together where locals and newcomers can have a chat, share a laugh, and make new friends over a cup of coffee.

The next Coffee & Company will take place on Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00am at Bar-Restaurante Las Claras del Mar Menor. There’s no need to sign up, just turn up and enjoy good company.

These mornings are a lovely way to stay connected with the community, especially for anyone who doesn’t use social media or prefers face-to-face conversation. HELP Murcia Mar Menor encourages everyone to spread the word and bring along a friend or neighbour.

As always, the volunteer-run charity continues its mission to support the local community through events like this, simple moments that make a big difference.

Fun with Amigos

AMIGOS Bar San Pedro has a range of events lined up this November. From live music to shows and charity events, there’s something for everyone.

On November 8, Alfie’s One Step Beyond will perform live from 8:30pm. It’s a relaxed evening to enjoy music and spend time with friends.

On November 20, the bar hosts a Christmas Fashion Show and Disco starting at 2:00pm, with DJ John providing the music. Later, at 7:30pm, there will be a Table Magic Show for those who enjoy a bit of wonder and entertainment.

On November 29, there’s a Golf Charity Day, followed by Robbie James performing live from 8:00pm. It’s a chance to support a local cause and enjoy some live music.

Amigos Bar San Pedro is known for its great atmosphere, good drinks, and simple, enjoyable evenings.

The bar is located at Avenida de las Salinas 121, San Pedro del Pinatar. For more information, call 711 03 07 12.

Check out the events this November and enjoy music, shows, and community at Amigos Bar San Pedro.

Read more Costa Calida events and activities here