Apple's space ship-shaped research campus cleared

[SAN FRANCISCO] Apple's plan to build a shimmering flying-saucer shaped headquarters got final clearance for take-off this week, after a tax break granted to the company was trimmed.

Officials in the Silicon Valley city of Cupertino, which has long been home to the culture-changing technology titan, put a stamp of approval on a grand vision put in motion years ago by late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

The vote late on Tuesday was a procedural formality and essentially a rubber stamping of a unanimous endorsement for the project by members of the Cupertino city council last month.