We're very pleased to report that Shakira will release her brand new album, Sale el Sol/The Sun Comes Out, on October 19th.

The album will feature Shakira's record-breaking global hit "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)", as well as a new single "Loca". Recorded in the Dominican Republic, “Loca” is Shakira’s interpretation of Dominican artist El Cata’s song “Loca Con Su Tiguere". You can hear the Spanish version of the track, above. There will also be an English version, featuring a guest appearance from Dizzee Rascal, the UK's number one rapper.

Here's an exclusive look at the single and album artwork:





Keep it locked to Shakira.com for all the very latest news on the new release...

For our latest classic Shakira Live Moment ahead of the 2010 tour, we look back at Shakira's 2000 Anfibio Tour.

We're still asking you to share your Shakira Live Moments with us - be they photos, videos or reviews from Shakira shows that you've been to. Click here to add your voice.

Shakira Live Moment #1: Whenever, Wherever
Shakira Live Moment #2: Waka Waka at Glastonbury

We continue our new series of classic Shakira Live Moments ahead of the tour starting with this amazing video of Shakira performing Waka Waka at the UK's Glastonbury Festival on June 26 2010. (Unfortunately for the English in the audience it didn't help their team, who were knocked out of the competition the following day.)

Remember, we'd also like you to contribute, sharing your Shakira Live Moments with us - be they photos, videos or reviews from Shakira shows that you've been to. Click here to add your voice.

Shakira Live Moment #1: Whenever, Wherever

With only 23 days until Shakira's tour kicks off in Montreal, we're pleased to announce that another show has been added to the North American tour. On October 20, Shakira will play the Santa Barbara Bowl in, yes, Santa Barbara.

As ever, we have a special Fan Club pre-sale, which kicks off tomorrow (Tue Aug 24) at 10am local time. The public on-sale then begins on Saturday (Aug 28) at 11am. For both, you'll be able to buy your tickets via our Tour section.

(Santa Barbara fact: the city was given its name in 1602 by a Spanish soldier named Sebastian Vizcaino who was showing his gratitude for surviving a terrible storm on the eve of the feast day of Saint Barbara.)

Here at Shakira.com, we're already gearing ourselves up for Shakira's world tour, which begins on September 15th in Montreal, Canada. And, to whet everyone's appetites, we thought we'd share some classic Shakira Live Moments with you guys over the next 30 days. (If you'd like to see details of all the upcoming dates - or buy tickets - then click here.)

We'd also like you to contribute, sharing your Shakira Live Moments with us - be they photos, videos or reviews from Shakira shows that you've been to. Click here to add your voice.

We begin our video highlights with a fabulous rendition of Whenever, Wherever, live in Rotterdam, Holland in 2003, on the Tour of the Mongoose.

Enjoy - and look out for another classic Live Moment soon.

Check out this amazing video made by the Shakira Orkut Community in Brazil (which has 300,000 members). Their little treasure chest box travelled around Brazil for 345 days, with fans of Shakira placing a regional gift from each state into the trunk. It now contains presents, letters and drawings - each related to a particular city. As the video shows, it was a fantastic project.

We're trying to arrange for the trunk to be delivered to Shakira HQ, so that we can present it to Shak - who's looking forward to checking out the contents!

We're pleased to report that Shakira has been nominated for the Latino Artist of the Year award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. If you'd like to vote for her then please click here (you don't have to register first). Thanks very much!

We're pleased to report that Shakira is involved with several initiatives to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Dora the Explorer.

For starters, Shakira is one of 12 celebrities who have designed a one-off Dora backpack to be auctioned in aid of the Children's Defense Fund. The auction for the backpack (which is being displayed at Macy's in NYC) is underway. Click here if you'd like to bid for it (the auction closes on Thu, 2 Sep 2010 at 12:00:00 PM EDT).

Also, a song from Shakira, entitled Todos Juntos, features on a new CD called We Did It - Dora's Greatest Hits, which you can pre-order from Amazon ahead of its August 17th relesae by clicking here.

Then, in early October, a Dora book that Shakira wrote, called World School Day Adventure, will be made available to purchase.

Last but not least, Shakira will feature in a TV special on November 7th, called Dora's Explorer Girls, which will air on Nickelodeon.

As you'll have gathered, these two great Latina gals have forged quite a partnership!

We're very pleased to report that Shakira won the Best Activist Artist award at yesterday's Teen Choice awards. Huge thanks to all of you who voted for her to win - she couldn't have done it without you!

Do you have a question you'd really like to ask Shakira? If so, then post it (just one, please) in the comments below this story, before Friday August 13th.

The best ones will be put to Shakira in a special Shakira.com interview soon.

We look forward to seeing what you come up with...