Qubes 4.2 can't install new soft in dom0 - install stalls . Please help

[oddgirl]

Qubes OS release

4.2 , latest update

Brief summary

trying to install additional software, the download completes but then nothing happens

Steps to reproduce

just type

sudo qubes-dom0-update gcc

Expected behavior

gcc to be installed

Actual behavior

it proceeds as follows:

Using sys-firewall as UpdateVM for Dom0
Downloading packages. This may take a while...
Fedora 37 - x86_64                              5.3 kB/s | 4.9 kB     00:00    
Fedora 37 - x86_64 - Updates                    3.5 kB/s | 4.8 kB     00:01    
Qubes Host Repository (updates)                  11 kB/s | 2.7 kB     00:00    
Dependencies resolved.
================================================================================
 Package                 Architecture Version               Repository     Size
================================================================================
Installing:
 gcc                     x86_64       12.3.1-1.fc37         updates        33 M
Installing dependencies:
 glibc-devel             x86_64       2.36-18.fc37          updates        85 k
 glibc-headers-x86       noarch       2.36-18.fc37          updates       565 k
 kernel-headers          x86_64       6.5.4-100.fc37        updates       1.5 M
 libxcrypt-devel         x86_64       4.4.36-1.fc37         updates        29 k

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install  5 Packages

Total download size: 36 M
Installed size: 100 M
DNF will only download packages for the transaction.
Downloading Packages:
(1/5): glibc-devel-2.36-18.fc37.x86_64.rpm      206 kB/s |  85 kB     00:00    
(2/5): glibc-headers-x86-2.36-18.fc37.noarch.rp 1.3 MB/s | 565 kB     00:00    
(3/5): libxcrypt-devel-4.4.36-1.fc37.x86_64.rpm  13 kB/s |  29 kB     00:02    
(4/5): kernel-headers-6.5.4-100.fc37.x86_64.rpm 584 kB/s | 1.5 MB     00:02    
(5/5): gcc-12.3.1-1.fc37.x86_64.rpm             3.1 MB/s |  33 MB     00:10    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                           3.2 MB/s |  36 MB     00:11     
Complete!
The downloaded packages were saved in cache until the next successful transaction.
You can remove cached packages by executing 'dnf clean packages

And then NOTHING happens, the red text above has been staying in the window with no further action for hours by now

[oddgirl]

(it is not specific to gcc - pressing Ctrl-C and trying to install other soft has similar outcome)