Official Communication of the UFA
Posted by Jim on January 10, 2018
January 9th
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FDNY BOXING SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 30th
Posted by Jim on
The FDNY Boxing Team will take on the Garda Siochana Boxing Club of the Irish National Police Service for the 2018 Transatlantic Championship. This event, a/k/a “War on the West Side” will take place at the highly acclaimed Terminal 5, located at 610 West 56th Street. This venue features multiple spacious bars, a large ground floor viewing area, balconies overlooking the ring on floors two and three, plus a rooftop cigar bar where all the action can be seen on their two big screens. General admission is only $30 and VIP Ringside cost $50. Tickets are on sale now at www.FDNYBOXING.com or www.AXS.com. Group sales of 10 or more are available for FDNY members at a 25% discount by calling Bobby McGuire, President FDNY Boxing at 917-282-8727 (fdnyboxing@aol.com). It makes for a great company night out. They are also looking to feature a couple of “grudge” matches. So if you have a problem with another member and both parties agree to settle it in the ring, they would love to hear from you. Any boxers under 201 lbs would need to be within 10 lbs of each other. You would be scheduled to box three 1 minute rounds. Experience is not necessary but they highly recommend that you start training ASAP. If you don’t have a trainer or coach, theirs are available at no cost. As always, proceeds from this event will benefit Building Homes for Heroes. This organization builds mortgage free, handicap accessible homes for our veterans returning home with severe injuries. We look forward to seeing you at the fights.
Karen Bradley is the new British Direct Ruler
Posted by Jim on January 8, 2018
A 47-year-old English MP has been appointed as the new British Direct
Ruler in the north of Ireland, taking over from the departing James
Brokenshire. Karen Bradley has no known connection to Ireland.
The announcement was made this evening by British Prime Minister Theresa
May as part of a general cabinet reshuffle.
Bradley has previously worked on developing economic and fiscal policies
for the Tories before securing a position at the Home Office in 2015,
where she had responsibility for Organised Crime. She won a promotion to
the post of Culture Secretary in 2016 before today’s move, viewed as a
sideways promotion in the ranks of the British government. Late last
year she made headlines for her concerns over the broadcasting takeover
of Sky plc by 21st Century Fox.
Bradley represents her home constituency of Staffordshire Moorlands,
near the city of Stoke in the English midlands, and has a degree in
Mathematics. She becomes the third female British Direct Ruler, after Mo
Mowlam and Theresa Villiers. She is is thought to be ambivalent on
Brexit, but previously described a move to take Britain out of the EU
single market as “nonsensical”.
Her appointment will raise hopes of a new Tory departure on the Irish
peace process and Brexit negotiations on the border.
Earlier today, it was revealed that James Brokenshire was stepping down
as Direct Ruler after just 18 months in the post, ostensibly for health
reasons.
In his letter of resignation to Ms May, Brokenshire said he expected to
be able to return to work �relatively quickly� after an upcoming
surgical procedure. However, he added that he would not �be able to give
the effort, energy and complete focus needed at this important time� and
therefore believed that �the right thing at this time” is to “stand down
from my current responsibilities�.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said Brokenshire “had immersed himself fully in
the role by dedicating long hours to trying to make progress. James
leaves the role with a very intimate knowledge of Northern Ireland and I
look forward to working with him again in the future.”
In a tweet, Sinn Fein’s leader in the north, Michelle O’Neill, said she
wished Mr Brokenshire a “speedy recovery”. She added: “Best wishes to
you and your family at this time.”
British Direct Ruler quits
Posted by Jim on
The head of British government in the north of Ireland, James
Brokenshire, has quit the Tory cabinet ahead of a major reshuffle by
Prime Minister Theresa May.
The British government confirmed the resignation but gave no further
details officially. However, it was claimed the 50-year-old minister
decided to stand down because he is facing a surgical procedure on his
right lung.
It is Britain’s first major reshuffle since Ms May took office. Up to
six ministers are expected to be sacked — but the MP from Kent in
southeast England was not among ministers who were predicted to go.
Brokenshire’s spell at the head of Britain’s ‘Northern Ireland Office’
was marked by dismal failure, even by the standard of his office, and he
became known chiefly for his robotic delivery of NIO holding statements.
During his period in the job, he presided over the collapse of the
devolved institutions and the effective return of full Direct Rule. In
particular, his decision to impose himself as the hopelessly compromised
chair of talks between Sinn Fein and unionists, despite his party
critically depending on the DUP for a majority at Westminster, fatally
undermined negotiations.
His stance on Brexit was implacably in support of May, his former boss
at the Home Office, and failed to take into account his brief in the
north of Ireland. In addition, his decision to continue a Tory policy of
selective internment of former republican political prisoners caused him
to become a hate figure for hardline republican groups, but won favour
with with the DUP.
His replacement could abandon these policies and lay the groundwork for
a new impetus to restore the Stormont Assembly in Belfast. However, any
new Direct Ruler sent by May while under the malign influence of the
DUP, and is likely be seen to be tainted. His replacement is likely to
be revealed later today.
