Brasilia  - Cuban President Raoul Castro, on his first official foreign visit since taking power in February, Thursday suggested that Havana and Washington could consider a possible prisoner exchange to start a thaw in relations between the two countries.

Castro, who took over leadership of the communist country in February from his ailing brother, revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, made the remarks after meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Rio de Janeiro - Cuban President Raul Castro hailed as "historic" Tuesday the first Latin American-Caribbean Conference, which was taking place Tuesday and Wednesday in the northeastern Brazilian seaside resort of Costa do Sauipe.

Speaking as a guest before leaders of the Mercosur trade bloc - which was holding its own summit along with those of three other organizations in the resort close to Salvador de Bahia - Castro said his country had a "brotherhood without restrictions" in relation to all efforts for integration in the region.

Brasilia - Brazil's government on Thursday announced an 8.4-billion-reais (3.6-billion-dollar) economic stimulus package, including tax cuts in personal income and cars, to revive its flagging economy.

The measures are aimed at ensuring a 4-per-cent growth in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) for 2009, said Finance Minister Guido Mantega when presenting the package together with Economy Minister Miguel Jorge and Central Bank head Henrique Meirelles.

Sao Paulo - Off-form Brazilian superstar Ronaldo is set to play football again in 2009, with the Brazilian club Corinthians, his agent confirmed Tuesday.

"There is a verbal agreement which will, within the next two days, be reflected in a contract so that Ronaldo's presence can be confirmed as soon as possible. Corinthians is led by very serious, determined people, and we are very happy about that," agent Fernando Farah told the website GloboEsporte.

Sao Paulo/Bras

Florianopolis, Brazil  - The death toll from heavy rains in southern Brazil reached 112 by the end of the week, as fears grew of possible health epidemics among more than 1 million people affected by the storms.

The epidemiology division of Santa Catarina province said it was monitoring at least 10 suspected cases of leptosirosis, a bacterial disease transmitted from rodents via unclean drinking water or pets. It said other illnesses such as hepatitis and tetanus are also common during flooding crises.

Provincial authorities said an estimated 80,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to flooding. Weather reports showed the rains would likely continue with the arrival of a new cold front into the area.