now there say better option, cbs's roxana saberi has the story. >> at primrose vale farm in england. >> it is the shape people looking. >> laurie sperring is looking for the perfect christmas tree. >> a living potted one that he is renting for around $80. >> why a rental tree. >> it is great for the environment. i can bring it tbak and also it will last. the whole time over christmas, i haven't had to go out and can cut one down. >> calculating the environmental cost of a christmas tree can be complicated. >> environmentalists say a chopped tree can leave a heavy carbon footprint unless it's recycled. and that plastic trees that be even worse unless they're refused over many years. that's one reason rental trees are a growing trend here. >> we are planting more each year and we can't plant them fast enough to be honest. >> the manager says nearly all of his farms 1,000 firs and spruces for rent will reserved long before the holidays. >> why is it it so popular? >> well, you are keeping a tree alive. there is something sort of feels a bit morally wrong about watching a tree grow for t

cbs' roxana saberi reports there's another option taking root in england. >> reporter: at primrose vales waited all year... to reunite with dee campling. for the second year in a row, the interior designer is renting the living potted tree for around $60. why did you want to get a rental christmas tree? >> every year, i hate seeing the used christmas trees left on the side of the road. people just dump them. it seems renting a tree is the most environmentally friendly way of celebrating christmas. >> reporter: environmentalists say a chopped tree can leave a heavy carbon footprint, unless it's recycled, and that plastic trees can be even worse. that's one reason rental trees are a growing trend in the u.k. manager paul keane says nearly all of his farm's 1,000 firs and spruces for rent were reserved long before christmas. >> i think people love the idea of keeping a tree alive, of not killing it for christmas. >> reporter: after christmas, the rental trees will be brought back here. they'll be replanted in these pots in the ground, where they'll live to see another christmas. that's wha

roxana saberi, cbs news, gloucestershire, england. >> and that's the overnight news for thursday. and follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm christina ruffini. >>> this is "cbs news flash." i'm bradley blackburn in new york. the u.s. supreme court will hold a rare special session in january for two cases about covid-19. one challenges the biden administration's vaccine mandate for large employers. the other focuses on a mandate for health care workers. >>> president biden is saying again that he will run for re-election in 2024, this time adding he'll do so if he's in good health, whichch he says hes mr. biden also says he'll be more likely to run if former president trump is the republican nominee. >>> and the u.s. navy has a new program for sailors who are expecting. a pilot program had hand out maternity uniforms to pregnant sailors starting next year. usually pregnant military members have to purchase maternity uniforms themselves. for more news download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm bradley blackburn, cbs n

cbs' roxana saberi reports there's another option taking root in england. >> reporter: at primrose vale, this christmas tree has waited all year... to reunite with dee campling. for the second year in a row, the interior designer is renting the living potted tree for around $60. why did you want to get a rental christmas tree? >> every year, i hate seeing the used christmas trees left on the side of the road. people just dump them. it seems renting a tree is the most environmentally friendly way of celebrating christmas. >> reporter: environmentalists say a chopped tree can leave a heavy carbon footprint, unless it's recycled, and that plastic trees can be even worse. that's one reason rental trees are a growing trend in the u.k. manager paul keane says nearly all of his farm's 1,000 firs and spruces for rent were reserved long before christmas. >> i think people love the idea of keeping a tree alive, of not killing it for christmas. >> reporter: after christmas, the rental trees will be brought back here. they'll be replanted in these pots in the ground, where they'll live to see anoth

cbs's roxana saberi reports from londony omicron infectious are exploding in numbers. >> reporter: protests against covid restrictions turn tense in london, and in brussels this weekend as demonstrators clashed with police. across europe, countries are battling to contain the omicron variant, heading into christmas. the netherlands has imposed its fourth lockdown closing nonessential shops, bars and restaurants. denmark has shut down theaters, cinemas and miewnlzs. in germany, gatherings could reportedly soon be limited to up to ten people and some travelers arriving in the country must now the u.k., meanwhile, is racing to give all adults a booster shot by the end of the year but is not reimposing severe restrictions yet says british primes boris johnson. >> unfortunately, we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public. >> reporter: one event that won't be going ahead here in london is the annual new year's eve celebration in trafalgar square. mayor sadiq khan tonight announced it will be canceled to reduce the spread of the virus. margaret. >> thank

. >> yuccas: roxana saberi in london, thank you.resident biden is spending his first christmas in office at the white house with family. christina ruffini is there now, with more, and christina, there is a new family member. >> reporter: that's right, there is, the president, the first lady and their new german shepherd puppy commander, on what was essentially a zoom call with armed forces members around the world. president biden said they know what it's like to be missing a member of the family during the holidays. >> jill and i know how hard it is for you, but quite frankly it's harder for your husbands, wives, moms, dads, children, to be apart or on duty during a season of togetherness and we bidens understand that. we still every once in a while look at that empty chair. >> reporter: now, this holiday like the last, has been complicated by covid-19. this time, the new variant. the white house said yesterday it is retaking back a travel ban on eight southern african countries. it will rescind it at the recommendation of the c.d.

cbs's roxana saberi reports from london, where omicron infections are exploding in numbers. >> reporterotests against covid restrictions turned tense in london. and in brussels this weekend, as demonstrators clashed with police. across europe countries are battling to contain omicron variant, heading into christmas. the netherlands has imposed its fourth lockdown, closing non-essential shops, bars and restaurants. denmark has shut down theaters, museums and cinemas. in germany gatherings could reportedly soon be limited to up to ten people. and some travelers arriving in the country must now quarantine for two weeks. the uk, meanwhile, is racing to give all adults a booster shot by the end of the year but is not reimposing severe restrictions yet, says british prime minister boris johnson. >> unfortunately, i must say to people we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public. >> reporter: one event that won't be going ahead here in london is the annual new year's eve celebration in trafalgar square. mayor sadiq khan announced tonight it will be can