Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for Thursday.

LCD Panel Suppliers for 7.85-Inch iPad Certified: Taiwanese news reports say that LG (NYSE:LPL) and AU Optronics have been certified to supply Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) with the 7.85-inch LCD panels for a smaller iPad, 9to5Mac says. The suppliers are reportedly increasing production of the panels for shipment in the second half of this year. Other reports out of Taiwan say that TPK Holding, Chemi Innolux and Nissha Printing will supply other components for the smaller iPad. Initial targets for the LCD panels suggest a production run of six million of the smaller iPads, 9to5Mac says.

Apple Wins iPhone5.com Domain Fight: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has ruled in Apple’s favor, granting the company control over the iPhone5.com domain, TheNextWeb reports. iPhone5.com started in 2008 and hosted an online forum, declaring that it was not affiliated in any way with Apple. The struggle for control of the domain does not necessarily imply that Apple plans to use iPhone 5 as the designation of its next generation iPhone, TheNextWeb noted.

Apple Job Ads in China Suggest Expanding Retail Operations: Apple has posted job advertisements seeking store leadership positions in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, implying plans to expand retail operations into those cities, Apple Insider says. While Apple had announced its intention to build 25 stores in China two years ago, only five have opened so far. Those stores, located in Beijing and Shanghai, have proven extremely popular. Apple’s manufacturing partner, Foxconn operates in Chengdu and Shenzhen, Apple Insider notes.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.