news; CL:條|条[tiao2],個|个[ge4]
新 · 13 strokes
Phonosemantic component. 辛 represents the sound, and 斤 (axe) and 木 (tree) represent the original meaning "firewood", now written as 薪. The meaning later shifted to "fresh" and "new".
闻 · 9 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聞.