Colombian pop star Shakira on Monday reached a settlement with prosecutors to avoid a trial in Barcelona over charges she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014. As part of the deal, she accepted the charges and a fine of 50% of the amount owed, more than 7.3 million euros. She also accepted another fine of 438,000 euros to avoid a three-year prison sentence, the judge said during the trial's first hearing. "Do you recognise the facts and conform with the new penalties that have been requested?" asked Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez. "Yes," Shakira responded. ... (full story)