Why does it have to be an app? I don't want to install your garbage spyware on my phone. Just make an extremely simple webpage without any ads or other garbage.
You realize the app recommended is the Guardian’s and uses updating notifications to present in a predictable manner and context? This seems like an improvement in user experience over keeping this in a tab along all the other tabs and having to meander past your regular distractions, many of which might present results in a less restrained manner than what is being advocated for here. It seems like you saw the word app, made a throwaway, and ranted about the word app.
Apple's App store doesn't list permissions, but permissions are not given until the user is asked for each individually. I think it's against the app store guidelines to require permissions that aren't actually necessary (eg. requiring microphone permission before displaying a news article to the user).