Anti-ICE protests continue, and Nicola Willis criticises Reserve Bank
Anti-ICE demonstrations continued across several American cities and Finance Minister Nicola Willis criticised the Reserve Bank over Adrian Orr's resignation.
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Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Israeli strikes on Iran to 'continue for days'
Israel said early on Friday it had struck Iranian nuclear targets to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons, and Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country's main uranium enrichment facility. Calling the offensive "Rising Lion," Israel said it was also targeting Iranian commanders and missile factories, and declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Tehran. "We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message. Israel targeted Iranian scientists working on a nuclear bomb, its ballistic missile programme and its Nantanz uranium enrichment facility, in an operation that would continue for days, he said. People gather in the street in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS A witness in Nantanz city said multiple explosions were heard near the facility, and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country's leadership was holding a top security meeting. Iran's state TV said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country's air defence system was on full alert. An Israeli military official said Israel was striking "dozens" of nuclear and military targets. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days. "Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally because it believes the operation was necessary for self-defence. "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement. "Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel," he added. CNN reported that US President Donald Trump was convening a cabinet meeting. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called it "a really unwelcome development in the Middle East". "The risk of miscalculation is high. That region does not need any more military action, and risk associated with that." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Reuters Crude oil prices jumped more than $US3 a barrel on the news. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. But the talks have appeared to be deadlocked. Trump said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen" but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution. US intelligence had indicated that Israel was making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, and US officials said on condition of anonymity that Israel could attack in the coming days. The US military is planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Techday NZ
3 hours ago
- Techday NZ
SEON expands real-time AML suite with AI-driven risk platform
SEON has announced the launch of an expanded Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance suite, moving its offerings from fraud prevention into a unified risk management solution. The updated suite features real-time, artificial intelligence-driven capabilities such as Payment Screening, Transaction Monitoring, and integrated case management functionalities for both fraud and AML processes. The platform aims to provide organisations with a comprehensive tool that streamlines customer screening, alert management, investigations and regulatory reporting. Many risk and compliance teams currently rely on legacy systems that process data in batches, which can cause delays, siloed data, scattered case files and a lack of comprehensive audit trails. SEON's new solution is designed to address these challenges by consolidating fraud and AML data into a single environment. This integration allows teams to assess risks with greater context, minimise irrelevant alerts, and simplify case handling. Industry trends The company's 2025 Digital Fraud Outlook indicates that real-time transaction monitoring has emerged as the leading investment priority for compliance and fraud specialists this year. According to the report, 62% of organisations are prioritising this shift in an effort to strengthen their transactional risk management. In response, SEON's expanded suite provides granular, real-time alerts intended to reduce the volume of false positives and increase detection accuracy across both fraud and AML use cases. This level of integration is designed to help compliance and fraud teams address threats more proactively while maintaining regulatory standards. The impact of these enhancements is already being observed by clients. Sebastian Brant, Director of CEX at Casumo, said, "We already use SEON as a key part of how we manage fraud risk at Casumo. They bring depth in proprietary risk signals we can't get anywhere else, flexible tools that we can adapt to any scenario and a level of customer service responsiveness and expertise we simply haven't seen elsewhere. We see the significant value of having one system that can help teams operate more efficiently and effectively." SEON positions its suite as a unified resource for teams handling both fraud prevention and AML compliance. The goal is to detect risks earlier, resolve incidents with greater speed, and ensure that all records are audit-ready, all within a single interface. This approach eliminates the need to switch between separate systems, removes manual interventions, and reduces reliance on spreadsheets. Leadership perspective "Risk teams don't need more tools — they need one that gives them a full picture," said Tamas Kadar, Co-Founder and CEO, SEON. "This launch gives fraud and compliance teams a multi-dimensional command center to manage risk in one place. And because we own our data pipeline and can control data accuracy, this means our models deliver more accurate risk decisions." The evolution of SEON's AML Compliance suite is rooted in customer collaboration and is designed to function within varied regulatory environments, internal policies, and in the face of emerging risks. The solution offers extensive customisation options to fit the unique needs of each organisation. Key suite features Among the main features of the platform are tools for identifying fraud at early stages using digital footprint and fraud signals, expediting reviews through AI-assisted customer screening, and providing unified dashboards for fraud intelligence, AML signals, and transaction data. The system also aims to reduce the time compliance teams spend on regulatory reporting with autofill capabilities and AI-generated narratives for Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The suite facilitates rapid submission of SAR, Currency Transaction Reports (CTR), and Form 8300 documentation to FinCEN, with ongoing plans to expand support for additional regulatory bodies. For leaner teams or organisations seeking additional guidance, SEON offers Managed Risk Services, which provide rule management and expert support. By combining elements such as real-time digital footprint analysis, device intelligence, and AI-driven rules, the expanded SEON solution is positioned to assist organisations in proactively addressing fraud and money laundering risks while staying compliant with relevant regulations.
Kiwiblog
3 hours ago
- Kiwiblog
We should target US international students
Eric Crampton writes: And so, New Zealand universities have the chance to do well while doing good. The case is simplest for students who have not yet begun US studies and are stuck in limbo with a pause in America's processing of F-1 student visas, or who just want to get out of the US. New Zealand could clearly advertise that any student accepted into an American university but who are having second thoughts about it will face simplified processing for a New Zealand student visa. And students who already have their American F-1 student visa could also be offered speedier, simplified NZ student visa processes. Students part way through their US degrees but nervous about being there next year may prefer to spend a couple of semesters here as study-abroad rather than as a full transfer. New Zealand's universities already handle study-abroad. It's a well-trodden path. Reminding students in American universities that this option is available could be very worthwhile. Tuition fees in the US are much higher than here. Simplified Immigration New Zealand processes for students already accepted to US universities should mean lower processing costs. The processing charge enabling Immigration New Zealand to do the job should be small when compared with the tuition fee difference between the two countries. … Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's pledge to double export earnings had seemed more than a little aspirational. But international education is an export service. The world's biggest provider of that service is in disarray. Doubling the number of international students served by New Zealand universities would previously have meant lowering standards. Now it could mean attracting excellent students who wouldn't have previously considered New Zealand – while helping a lot of people put into very bad circumstances. Doing well while doing good seems worth trying. This is an excellent idea, that the Government should pursue with urgency. We do indeed have a huge opportunity as foreign students in the US face great uncertainty. Having them enrol in NZ universities would benefit them and benefit us.
