Calendar 8.0 reminders in GMT

Edit: If you're connecting an Exchange account or to a Google calendar via the Exchange setting, the Second Alert option is not available, because these systems do not support a second alert.

If you are not connecting via the Exchange setting you can access the Second Alert like this:

• On your iPhone, start Calendar.
• Navigate to the day that has your event.
• Select the event, which brings up the Event Details.
• Click the Edit button.
• Scroll down until you see Alert.
• If the event does not already have an alert, it will say "none" and you click "none" to add an alert.
• Once the event has an alert, you will see a new entry just below it called Second Alert. It will say "none" and just like the first alert, you can click on it to add another alert.

Settings > Mail, contacts, calendars > Default alert times > birthdays

Apparently there are a few options here. You cannot specifically set a custom time at the time of my writing this, but it is possible to pick "a day before", "2 days before", "1 week before" or on day of event. I don't see a way to select a different time though other than 9 am.