Here's what the OP described as happening on their new Windows install:
> I remember the first time I used a Windows system last year after tens of years on Linux/OSX, and it was really a somewhat strange experience: the moment I connected the ethernet cable I was instantly looking at random flashy news articles from another part of the world. Not in the browser, not in some kind of "News" app, but right in my taskbar! The most amazing part is that I did not even have to click on it – the system carefully opened it for me to delight me with some low-quality not-even-local news.
macOS does not have a task bar and that paragraph specifically says that the flashing items did not even show in a news app. The criticism of Apple here says that they have a news app and that it shows news.
It is not the same thing and it won't be the same thing no matter how many times you say it. It simply isn't!
Swiping away (to the right) from the Home Screen, will take you to the widget area from which you can immediately remove the news widget with two or so taps, and that setting will get preserved. So not really the same as pressing start to search for an app to launch. I think in your example the equivalent would be going to the iOS App Library list and then seeing ads and widgets there, which does not happen.
You have to open the widget board on Windows to be shown the news widget that the OP was talking about. There's separate Start and widget board buttons in the taskbar.
Smartphones are not desktop computers and they behave differently.
That a smartphone comes preloaded with some news app is not unexpected behavior.
That a desktop operating system is not "clean" from first install is absolutely not acceptable.
Clicking on a story opens it in the Apple News app, which is also in your dock by default.