Apple’s Steve Jobs scheduled to meet with Obama on Thursday

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Updated, 12:14 p.m.

Apple’s Steve Jobs is scheduled to attend a meeting with President Obama on Thursday along with chief executives from Google Inc. and Facebook, the White House has confirmed.

The news came as speculation about Jobs’ health has intensified following whispers about a series of unpublished tabloid photos showing the Apple co-founder leaving the Stanford Cancer Center in apparently frail condition. Gizmodo published one of the photos, taken by the National Enquirer for an upcoming issue, Wednesday night.

Jobs, who began his current medical leave in January, is scheduled to be joined at the meeting by Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, Google chief Eric Schmidt, and a dozen other leaders in the technology sector. Obama is in California to promote his plans to boost education spending and discuss technology and employment.

‘The President and the business leaders will discuss our shared goal of promoting American innovation, and discuss his commitment to new investments in research and development, education and clean energy,’ a statement from the White House said.

The reports did not specify where the meeting will take place or if any part of it will be visible to the press or the public.

Apple’s stock has dropped 1.6% in early trading Thursday, down to $357.25.

Updated to reflect confirmation of Jobs on attendance list, as well as planned presence of other technology leaders.

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-- David Sarno