NHK reported that President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Weinstein as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan has for all practical purposes been annulled and the new ambassador will be appointed by President-elect Biden. The network said although the nomination of Weinstein was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September, voting at the full Senate did not take place, and the Congress effectively closed on Dec. 21 and the nomination of the next U.S. ambassador to Japan has returned to the drawing board. The network added that it is expected to take at least several months before the Senate approves the nomination of a new ambassador by the next administration.