Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Tuesday named economist Jorge Quiroz as finance minister, part of a cabinet that includes two lawyers who defended dictator Augusto Pinochet, a move that has revived tensions over human rights ahead of his inauguration.

Chile's right-wing president-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Tuesday named two ex-lawyers of former dictator Augusto Pinochet to lead the ministries of defense and human rights when he takes office in March.

Lincolao, a dual citizen, will work with the country's new president to create more infrastructure for startups and manage the data center boom.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two regions in the south of the country as raging wildfires forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate.

SANTIAGO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Chile's President-elect Jose Antonio Kast ‌on ​Tuesday appointed Jorge Quiroz as ‌Finance Minister and named other members of his cabinet ahead of ​taking office on March 11. Kast also named Daniel Mas as head of the mining ministry. Chile ‍is the world's largest copper ​producer and second-largest lithium producer.

The death toll was revised upward to 19 on Monday after Chilean President Gabriel Boric said that the 18 deaths were confirmed, “but we are certain that this number will rise”. The president also imposed a new nighttime curfew in the hardest-hit areas.

WOM Chile has completed the delivery of all 366 mandatory locations named in its 5G rollout. It means the network has met the milestones set for it by the Chilean government's Undersecretary of Telecommunications (Subtel), following years of delays.

Wildfires that have killed 19 people in southern Chile and wiped out entire towns raged for a third day Monday, fanned by warm temperatures and strong winds at the height of the southern hemisphere summer.