The present invention is directed to intelligent and near real-time monitoring in a streaming environment. In embodiments, a streaming platform streams raw data from raw data capture devices, where the raw data is contextually enriched using multiple information sources. A rule execution operator, integrated within the streaming platform, detects events by executing rules against the contextually enriched data. The rules applied are customizable, flexible, multivariate, and dynamically responsive to changing information. When an event is detected, an action can be instantiated in response to the event detection and/or newly derived information. The action and/or instructions for performing the action are communicated to external sources, where the action can be initiated and/or completed. Accordingly, actions are instantiated in near real time relative to the initial receipt of raw data from which the events were detected. Actions may be delayed using sophisticated temporal reasoning, in some embodiments.