新 = 亲/辛 + 斤 (axe). It originally meant freshly-cut firewood — wood newly chopped with an axe (斤). 'Freshly cut' became 'new / fresh'. The axe is still there on the right.
新 is 'new', and it carries hope. 新年 (New Year — with 年) is the biggest celebration of the year; 新年快乐 = 'Happy New Year'. 新人 = a newcomer (or a newlywed), 新闻 = news ('new-heard'). The phrase 万象更新 ('all things renew') captures the Chinese feeling of spring and the New Year — a fresh start. After learning 旧 (old) someday, you'll have the full pair.
Wood freshly cut with an axe (斤) — brand NEW.
新闻 ('new-heard') means 'news'. 新年快乐 = Happy New Year. The axe (斤) inside 新 recalls its first meaning: freshly chopped wood.