What is the best way to find out if anything potentially problematic is scheduled for a given European city? I'm thinking along the lines of a NATO meeting or No Global. Is this information that the tourist boards of embassies would freely give? Thanks!

Meant to say "tourist boards OR embassies." Sorry

I think a war with Iraq might cause ripple effects (or be problematic as you say) but we don't have firm dates as of yet.

Thanks, but I wasn't focusing on ripple effects, I would like to know if anything specific is planned for a city. For example I was told to avoid Florence during the No Global demonstrations several months ago. Many businesses were closed, and it was inadvisable to be in the city those days.

http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

I've seen notices about Nato meetings on the State Dept. website. For example, I vaguely remember seeing some warning last year about a meeting in Naples that could affect travelers to the immediate area. For events that are not quite as important, and that become news after you've already left home, you could probably read newspapers in the country that you're visiting.<BR><BR>