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Speculation continues about Apple CEO's health

John D. Sutter
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, shown here in October 2010, has had a recent history of medical issues.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, shown here in October 2010, has had a recent history of medical issues.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Unconfirmed reports in tabloid, on gossip site raised questions about Steve Jobs' health
  • The Apple CEO is on an indefinite medical leave for unknown reasons
  • Apple declined to comment on the rumors to CNN
  • He's still scheduled to meet Thursday with President Obama, Eric Schmidt, Mark Zuckerberg
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(CNN) -- Despite unconfirmed reports about the state of his health, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is scheduled to meet Thursday night with President Obama and other tech leaders.

Reports in a supermarket tabloid and a gossip website have raised new speculation about the health of Apple's co-founder, who last month announced an indefinite medical leave of absence from the technology company.

There's been no confirmation of the reports from Jobs, Apple or anyone personally familiar with his medical care. An Apple spokesman declined to respond to CNN questions about the matter.

Jobs is scheduled to meet Thursday at a private event in San Francisco with Obama, Google's Eric Schmidt and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, among other executives.

CNN's White House blog, "The 1600 Report," has some background on the meeting:

"Obama last met with Jobs in San Francisco in October during the president's campaign swing out West right before the midterm election. White House aides said at the time that during the private meeting at a hotel, Obama and Jobs discussed American competitiveness, education and the Race to the Top initiative, as well as energy independence."

Rumors have swirled around the health of Apple's iconic leader for years.

His health problems began in 2003, when he was diagnosed with cancer. In 2009, he announced a leave of absence that lasted six months, during which time he was reported to have had a liver transplant.

Jobs has kept a low public profile since October, when he announced a new line of Mac laptops at an Apple event.

His latest medical leave from Apple started on January 17. Neither Apple nor Jobs has commented on the cause of the medical leave, and, in a letter to Apple's staff when he left, Jobs asked that his medical issues be kept private:

"I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can," he wrote. "In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy."

[TECH: NEWSPULSE]

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