The issue of bringing Central Park’s Cleopatra’s Needle back to Egypt is still in the media. See this recent video from New York Times on the weathering of the New Kingdom obelisk:

“Weathering The Times” – a video from New York Times on the decay of Cleopatra’s Needle

…and check out these blog posts of mine to get independent information on why the obelisk weathered in the distant past and is now in a more or less stable condition:

• Cleopatra’s Needle: Egyptian concern about the NYC obelisk
• Cleopatra’s Needle: Tracing obelisk weathering with old photos