For Joseph Calleja, tenor from Malta with voice ‘like sunshine,’ a star-making role at Met?

For tenor from Malta, a star-making role?

NEW YORK — There’s something about the honeyed sweetness of Joseph Calleja’s voice that seems to evoke memories of a golden age, as if this young tenor carried within his vocal cords a secret passed down from bygone generations.

Bishop of Malta says Pope Benedict XVI will visit island April 17-18

Malta’s bishop announces pope to visit April 17-18

Mystery ship laden with timber returns to Malta after odyssey from Finland to Africa

Mystery ship back in Malta

VALLETTA, Malta — Authorities say a Maltese-flagged freighter that mysteriously disappeared in the Atlantic over the summer has returned to Malta.

Italy defends record in saving boat migrants after suspected deaths of dozens of Africans

ROME — Italy defended its record Sunday in saving the lives of migrants found at sea amid increasing criticism over the suspected deaths of dozens of Africans.

Italian police rescue 5 migrants adrift off Sicily; survivors say 75 others died at sea

ROME — Italian border police rescued five African migrants adrift for days in a dinghy off the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa on Thursday. Survivors said up to 75 others died at sea, according to authorities.

Officials say they hid missing freighter’s location to protect hijacked Russian crew

MOSCOW — For more than two weeks, the freighter Arctic Sea seemed to have vanished in the Atlantic Ocean’s vastness, but officials said Tuesday they knew where it was all along and were just staying mum in order to bring a dangerous hijacking drama to a bloodless end.

France: Russian-manned cargo ship found near Cape Verde after vanishing last month in Atlantic

PARIS — The French Defense Ministry says a Russian-manned cargo that vanished in the Atlantic last month has been found near Cape Verde.

Disappearance of Russian-manned cargo ship in Atlantic draws investigators across Europe

MOSCOW — The disappearance of a Russian-manned cargo ship in the Atlantic more than two weeks ago spawned a variety of theories and intriguing reports Thursday as the search drew in investigators from across Europe.

Italy’s vote for EU Parliament a virtual referendum on scandal-plagued Berlusconi

ROME — Italians voted Saturday in European Parliament elections that have become a virtual barometer of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s ability to weather a scandal over his attention to young women.

Italians vote for EU Parliament in election turned into referendum on scandal-plagued premier

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has weathered corruption probes and public outrage at his tasteless quips — emerging each time with his popularity intact.

Italy ships back 200 migrants to Libya in latest crackdown on illegal immigration

ROME — Italy returned more than 200 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea to Libya on Thursday, defying the United Nations refugee agency but claiming a major victory in its crackdown on illegal immigration.