Crossword Genius

Country where old hands back in favour (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

east timor

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'country' is the definition.
(I know that East Timor is a country)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for east timor that I've seen before include "Southeast Asian country, independent since 2002, capital Dili" , "island nation" , "Ex-Portuguese colony annexed by Indonesia, independent since 2002" , "Part of the Malay archipelago - estimator (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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