Top 50 UPI photos of 2012 (51 images)

Israeli soldiers take cover as they fire an Iron Dome intercept rocket in southern Israel as Hamas fires rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on November 19, 2012. UPI/Mati Milstein

Palestinian policemen inspect the destroyed office building of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City, November 22, 2012, a day after a cease fire was declared between Israel and the Islamic Palestinian movement. An Egypt-brokered truce took hold in the Gaza Strip after a week of bitter fighting between militant groups and Israel, with both sides claiming victory but remaining wary. UPI/Ismael Mohamad

Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas competes at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY on July 4, 2012. Thomas won the competition by eating 45 hotdogs and breaking her world record. UPI/John Angelillo .

U. S. President Barack Obama (L) and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron enjoy a hot dog as they watch Mississippi Valley State University play Western Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the University of Dayton Arena on March 13, 2012 in Dayton, Ohio. UPI/Brian Kersey