Shakira acquitted of tax fraud

A Spanish court has acquitted Colombian pop star Shakira in a long-running tax fraud case, ordering the government to return over $70 million in wrongly imposed fines.

The judge ruled that authorities failed to prove the singer was a resident of Spain during the 2011 tax year.

Shakira has maintained her innocence for eight years across three separate tax cases brought by the Spanish government.

The landmark ruling clears her name and marks the end of a high-profile legal battle that has followed her global music career.