Chinese and Taiwanese investors reportedly will throw a lifeline to Apple supplier Japan Display in the form of a $723 million bailout.

Taiwanese panel-maker TPK Holding, also an Apple manufacturer, and China’s state-backed Silk Road Fund would give the cash to the struggling Apple supplier in exchange for a 30 percent to 50 percent stake in the company.

Sources with knowledge of two of the touch module suppliers for the iPhone XR say the companies expect to see a slowdown in shipments in the first quarter of 2019.

The two companies are TPK Holding and General Interface Solution (GIS), both of whom have worked with Apple for several years. It feeds into concerns that the iPhone XR is experiencing weaker-than-expected sales. Things might not be quite what they seem, however.

Sources for Bloomberg have corroborated recent iPad mini rumors by confirming that the device will launch this October with a 7.85-inch display supplied by AU Optronics and LG Display. This will be the first time AUO, which supplies displays for Apple’s MacBooks, will supply a display for one of the Cupertino company’s iOS devices.

Apple broke from its traditional June unveiling for the iPhone 4S, choosing instead to launch the device at a dedicated “Let’s talk iPhone” event in October. But we may not have to wait until October of this year to see the iPhone 5.

According to one analyst, the sixth-generation device will get back its traditional June announcement at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference in 2012.

Rumors that Apple’s third-generation will launch early next year have been strengthened by claims from “industry sources” today, who say the Cupertino company has moved to control supplies of its iPad 2 in a bid to reduce excess inventory. It will reportedly reduce the number of displays manufactured by the likes of Samsung, LG Display, and Chimei Innolux during the fourth quarter of 2011, which could lead to a reduction in iPad shipments.

We’re all eagerly anticipating the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5, and while the Cupertino company is still yet to announce its release date, the device’s unveiling looks to be imminent as production is ramped up to 150,000 units per day.