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SEMANTIC ENIGMAS'Fascist!' and 'Faggot!', two insults from opposite ends of the political spectrum, both come from words meaning 'a bundle of sticks': are they in fact derived from the same word, way, way back? Kevin Hobbs, Glasgow What makes you say faggot and fascist come from opposite ends of the political spectrum? Given that I take it you mean faggot is slang for a homosexual, could there not easily be a faggot fascist?

TheatreReviewOld Vic, London In an era of fake news and moral uncertainty, this fine production of Arthur Miller’s play rings as true as ever Why the spate of Arthur Miller revivals? And why now? Watching Jeremy Herrin’s fine production of Miller’s first Broadway hit – a joint Headlong/Old Vic affair with a star cast headed by Sally Field, Bill Pullman and TV’s Victoria, Jenna Coleman – I thought I detected an answer.

Global developmentThe government has a ‘masterplan’ for the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, with tourist meccas built on land given to elite families while the poor and powerless face the bulldozers Photographs by Cindy Liu for The GuardianSitting on the veranda of a stilted house, a group of Cambodian fishers drink tea and sort crabs into buckets as they discuss when they might have to leave their homes. In 2020, Boeng Thom Angkep, a finger-shaped lake tucked below the forested hills of Ream national park on Cambodia’s south-western coast, was granted to an elite family to develop.

US news Gillette's 'We believe: the best men can be' razors commercial takes on toxic masculinity – video The shaving brand Gillette has launched a new ad campaign in response to the Me Too movement. The video urges men to hold each other to a higher standard and to step up when they see fellow men acting inappropriately towards women. The video has received intense criticism on social media with many men calling for a boycott of the brand

MoviesLuc Besson’s 1997 adventure boasted a wildly nonconformist character who refused gender labels, but also objectified women and relied on a lot of men Given that it’s supposed to be giving us fleeting, tantalising glimpses of the nebulous future, Hollywood sci-fi is often surprisingly conservative. The new Alien movie features a gay couple among its crew of colonists to another world, while there was plenty of discussion over producers’ decision to give Sulu a male partner in last year’s Star Trek: Beyond.

The ObserverIranThe US isn’t the biggest power in the Middle East any more. Iran isSimon TisdallWith China and Russia as its allies, the authoritarian regime is assembling a Middle Eastern coalition as Washington’s influence wanes The first of what may be manyUS-led air strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi Shia militants in Yemen marks another dismaying milestone on a long trail of western policy failures in the Middle East – the most pivotal and consequential of which remains the decades-old failure to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Busting out … Graham Little leaps in off Alcatraz. Photograph: Vivek KhanzodeBusting out … Graham Little leaps in off Alcatraz. Photograph: Vivek KhanzodeSan Francisco holidaysThe cold water and tricky currents of San Francisco Bay make the crossing from Alcatraz a daunting one, but a group of expert guides is helping hardy souls complete the ‘impossible swim’ The Guardian’s product and service reviews are independent and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

BooksObituaryNigel NicolsonDistinguished publisher and biographer dogged by the shadow of his famous parentsThe publisher, editor, biographer and sometime politician Nigel Nicolson, who has died aged 87, laboured in the shadow of his famous and turbulent parents, the diplomat Sir Harold Nicolson and the writer and gardener Vita Sackville-West. Although, like his elder brother, the art historian Ben Nicolson, he managed to carve a distinguished career for himself, this background was something of an ordeal, both professionally and emotionally, and, for a man of such obvious talents, Nigel Nicolson remained all his life considerably underrated.

Doctor WhoRichard Franklin: Doctor Who and Emmerdale actor dies aged 87Family say actor died in his sleep on Christmas morning after a long-term illness Richard Franklin, the actor best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Emmerdale, has died on Christmas Day at the age of 87. Franklin died “in his sleep” on Christmas morning after a long-term illness, a spokesperson for his family said. The spokesperson added: “We are deeply saddened by his loss, we will fondly remember him for his generosity, creative spirit and fantastic story telling.