Madness over tmp directory - nothing works

Update:
when temporarily removing .htaccess all was good.

So what in the following .htaccess is causing this problem? Have no idea why there is the reference to api.php

Also when removing the .htaccess and things correct themselves I see that the system is using php ea-php72, but php73 exists here. Should I be using that and if so, how is that set in phplist?

Thanks for any suggestions. Much appreciated.

DirectoryIndex index.php

<FilesMatch “.(php|inc)$”>
# Apache < 2.3
<IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
Order allow,deny
Deny from all
Satisfy All

# Apache ≥ 2.3

Require all denied

api.php is the entrypoint for phpList4

<FilesMatch “(index.php|dl.php|ut.php|lt.php|download.php|connector.php|api.php)$”>
# Apache < 2.3
<IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
Satisfy All

# Apache ≥ 2.3

Require all granted