Customize content area of the front page

Hi every one,
I am new to drupal and so far i have managed to play with some modules to the extent that i can customize the front page (basic level) using Views, Views Bonus Pack, Image-cache, Image Field and CCK.
But i am facing one major problem and that is to customize the content area of the front page. I want to have a the following but i don't know how to accomplish.

1. To have one Latest news stick at the top like in the LEAD SECTION of the following site, http://www.newswatch.in/ and embed related news in a bullet format just below continue reading link
2. To have news image slide show like in the following site http://www.creativepro.com
3. Can anyone show me/provide a link to where i can learn on how to accomplish tab settings and embed contents inside?
4. How can i accomplish news title and teaser with corresponding image thumbnails like in the following site http://www.oxmonline.com in the FEATURED STORIES. Such that image thumbnail is on the left and title & teaser on the right side. I know to embed image using image-cache and image-field but i want it to look like in www.oxmonline.com because the way i've managed is to embed thumbnail in the teaser only but not the way it looks in the above site.

I hope somebody can help me out with these issues that am facing.

Regards,
Mnzava