Try using the_post_thumbnail WP function, inside your <li id="news-single">
markup definition:
<li id="news-single">
<a href="https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/228220/<?php echo esc_url( $item->get_permalink() ); ?>" target="_blank" title="<?php printf( __( 'Posted %s', 'my-text-domain' ), $item->get_date('j F Y | g:i a') ); ?>">
<?php echo esc_html( $item->get_title() ); ?>
</a>
<?php
// This is the piece of code that you should add:
// You first need to check if the post has a thumbnail assigned.
if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) {
the_post_thumbnail();
}
?>
</li>
Hope it helps!