2
1a. Modify line 55 in /modules/news/index.php
from:
$xt->makeTopicSelBox(1, $xoopsOption['storytopic'], 'storytopic');
to:
$xt->makeTopicSelBox([color=800000]0[/color], $xoopsOption['storytopic'], 'storytopic');
1b. You can modify the News template
news_index.html. For a getting started guide to editing templates see this link:
https://xoops.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=12739&forum=20#forumpost511652. I think that should work ok. Just make sure your block is set to "HTML" contents.
3. You can control which modules a user can see in "System" -> "Groups". Give the Anonymous Users group access to the Forum and you will be all set.
4. XOOPS uses a very old version of phpBB. I am not exactly sure of the version, but I believe it was in the phpBB 1.0 development tree.
5. Any phpBB hacks would need serious alteration to work in the XOOPS environment. Another alternative is to use the IPB or phpBB modules created by Koudanshi,
http://www.bbpixel.com/modules/news/