British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday appointed a new Northern Ireland minister after James Brokenshire resigned due to ill health, posing a new challenge in efforts to resolve a political crisis in the UK province.<br/><br/>Karen Bradley, 47, was given the job, moving from her role as head of the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where she is best known for adopting a tough stance over Rupert Murdoch's bid to buy all of broadcaster Sky.<br/><br/>The change in personnel, which formed part of a wider cabinet reshuffle by May, could complicate moves to restart talks in the coming weeks to avoid a return to direct rule from London for the first time in a decade.<br/>Northern Ireland has been without a regional government for almost a year, destabilising the delicate balance between Irish nationalists and pro-British unionists that has been shaken by Britain's June 2016 vote to leave the European Union.<br/><br/>