The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea is almost complete with just 100 kilometres (62 miles) left to build, TASS news agency quoted Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak as saying on Thursday. “We hope that construction works on Nord Stream 2 will be completed by the end of this year,” Novak told reporters of progress on the pipeline, which will allow Russia to ship more gas to Western Europe, while bypassing Ukraine. The United States last month waived sanctions on the company behind the pipeline to Germany, a move opposed by critics of the project in the U.S. Congress, but welcomed by the Kremlin. However, environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe said on Wednesday it had applied for Nord Stream 2’s construction and operating […]