Skip to main content
Sensations English Logo
LEVEL B1+

Shadowing the newsreader

Listen to the newsreader read out each line and then practise saying it. Record your own voice line by line and submit your voiceover.

Hide View

Shakira, the Colombian pop star, has agreed to pay the Spanish government 22 million euros.

This sum was said to be owed in tax on her income while she was in Spain.

The original amount was for 14.5 million euros.

By paying the enormous sum, plus an extra fine, the singer avoided spending eight years in a Spanish prison.

Government lawyers said the star had lived in Barcelona for more than six months a year between 2012-2014, when in a long-term relationship with Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.

The government said she was required to pay Spanish income tax.

Shakira's team disagreed and said her main home was in the Bahamas during that period.

At first, the 46 year old singer had been keen to show she wasn't guilty in court - she felt the Spanish authorities simply wanted her money.

"It's clear they wanted to go after that money, no matter what," she said.

However, after years of fighting, she realised her own health and her children were more important.

"I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids," she said.

The artist now lives in Miami with the boys, whose father is Piqué, but in Spain, many other celebrities have been caught for avoiding tax.

Well-known footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have had to come to similar financial agreements.

The Spanish government's happy for rich foreigners to live in Spain, but only if they pay up.

REGISTER NOW

Get videos, articles, games and study tools!

Learn at six levels from A1 to C1
Or sign up with your Email
By clicking “Sign Up” above you are accepting our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign in

Sign up with email

Enter the following information to create your account.
All sign up options

Log in Or create an account

or

Forgot password?

reset password or login

Crop Image

Crop preview
Add to homescreen