Country friend from Tyneside? (5)

I believe the answer is:

nepal

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This clue could be a double definition.

'country' is the first definition.
(Nepal is an example)

'friend from tyneside?' is the second definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nepal that I've seen before include "mountain state" , "Kathmandu's country" , "Gurkhas' homeland" , "Small country high in the Himalayas" , "mountainous region" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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